Joseph Maroon (born May 26, 1940) is an American
neurosurgeon, author, and
triathlon athlete. He is the professor and vice chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is the current medical director of
WWE.[1][2] He is particularly known for his work studying
concussions and concussion prevention as well as his hypothesis (after the discovery of the CTE by Dr.
Bennet Omalu) on the development of
chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Maroon has conducted extensive research into
neurotrauma,
brain tumors, and diseases of the spine, which led to many innovative techniques for diagnosing and treating these disorders. Maroon was the first to publish on the use of ultrasound to detect venous air emboli (1968). Maroon et al. were the first to publish on the use of ultrasound to detect air in patients during neurosurgical procedures (1969) and to assess ophthalmic artery reversal of flow, indicating a thrombosis of the carotid artery (1969).[4] Maroon et al. published the simplified instrumentation for performing microvascular surgery in 1973, and in 1975, they pioneered the microsurgical approach to intra-orbital tumors.[5] In 1977, they pioneered the use of CT scanning as a guidance system for performing intracranial biopsy. In the same year, Maroon published the first paper on “burning hands” syndrome related to sports-related spinal cord injuries in
JAMA.[6]
In 1982, Maroon et al. pioneered the radical orbital decompression procedure for severe dysthyroid exophthalmos.[7] In 1985, they were the first to compare microsurgical disc removal with chemonucleolysis[8] and in 1986, they were the first to use a carbon dioxide laser in the management of lymphangiomas of the orbit.[9] That year, Maroon et al. were among the first to describe their surgery outcomes with microlumbar discectomy.[10] In 1987, Maroon and Onik introduced percutaneous automated discectomy as a new minimally invasive way to remove lumbar discs and subsequently published extensively on this technique.[11][12][13] In 1990, Maroon et al. published the first microsurgical approach to far lateral disc herniations in the lumbar spine[14][15] and in 2007, they published the case of Golfer's Stroke from Vertebral Artery Dissection.[16]
Further groundbreaking publications include the use of fish oil as an anti-inflammatory and alternative to nonsteroidal drugs for discogenic pain (2006);[17] a unifying, immunoexcitotoxicity hypothesis for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (2011);[18] and the possible use of a restricted calorie ketogenic diet for the treatment of
glioblastoma multiforme (2013).[19]
Sports medicine, concussion, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
Together with
neuropsychologist Mark Lovell, Maroon developed ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing),[23] a test to assess the presence and severity of concussion symptoms. This has become the standard tool to assess sports-related concussions.[24]
Maroon is interested in the prevention and treatment of
concussions, specifically in football.[25] In 2006, he joined the
National Football League’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee, which, in 2007, was renamed the Head, Neck, and Spine Committee. He has been consulted as an expert by American media on this subject.[26][27][28]
Based on his research into the predictors and scope of
chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),[29] he claims there is reason to be skeptical of the reported widespread incidence of CTE. His position has mostly been met with negative comments across the media and sports press due to the NFL having as many as 4500 former players reporting symptoms of CTE.[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]
Maroon was asked to testify to the New York City Council on a proposed rule on sideline medical coverage for organized youth football in the city.[38] Together with
Russell Blaylock, he developed an inflammation hypothesis for the biochemical mechanisms involved in the development of CTE following head trauma.[39] In the 2015 movie Concussion, which "examines how American football players suffer from major head injuries and life-long debilitating problems as a result of repeated concussions, and efforts by the National Football League to deny it,"[40] Maroon was played by actor
Arliss Howard.[41] In the movie, Maroon is portrayed as an NFL-biased doctor who tries to deny any relationship between football concussions and the brain pathology that Dr.
Bennet Omalu found and attributed to CTE. Since the release of the movie, several people have come forward in defense of Maroon, stating that his portrayal in the movie is sensationalized and incorrect.[42][43][44]
Burnout prevention and balancing life
After his personal experience with burnout at the peak of his medical career, Maroon developed a strong interest in burnout prevention and living a more balanced life. He conducted extensive research into burnout, burnout prevention, and what constitutes a healthy, balanced, and successful life outside of a professional career. Maroon has given keynote presentations on this subject matter at national and international conferences.[45] In 2017, he published the book Square One: A Simple Guide to a Balanced Life.[4]
The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a longer and Healthier Life[47][48] Maroon JC. (2008)
ISBN9781416565161 (made into a PBS Special)
Fish Oil: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory[49] Maroon JC, Bost J. (2006)
ISBN9781591201823
Practice Diagnosis and Management of Orbital Disease[50] Kennerdell JS, Cockerham KP, Maroon JC, Rothfus WE. (2001)
ISBN9780750672603
What You Can Do About Cancer. Maroon JC. (1969) Doubleday& Co., New York, 185 pp. (English, Italian, German and French translations).
Athletic career
Maroon has competed in 8
Ironman Triathlons (Hawaii – 1993, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2013;[51][52] Canada – 1995; New Zealand – 1997; Germany – 2000)[53] and is to this day an active triathlon athlete. Dr. Maroon was inducted into the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame[54] in 1999, the Western Chapter of the
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and in 2010 also to the
National Fitness Hall of Fame in Chicago.[55] For 2016, in the global ranking of Ironman athletes, Maroon ranks in 4th place in his age group. In 2022, Maroon placed second in the National Senior Games for his age group[13] and placed first in the Chicago Triathlon for his age group.[14]
Honors and awards
Maroon received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Indiana University in 2011. He was also named the Humanitarian of the Year by the Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation in 2018. Furthermore, the Indiana University Medical School presented him with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022.
References
^"Joseph C. Maroon, MD". University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
^
abMaroon, J. C.; Kennerdell, J. S. (1982-02-01). "Radical orbital decompression for severe dysthyroid exophthalmos". Journal of Neurosurgery. 56 (2): 260–266.
doi:
10.3171/jns.1982.56.2.0260.
ISSN0022-3085.
PMID7054435.
^
abKennerdell, J. S.; Maroon, J. C.; Garrity, J. A.; Abla, A. A. (1986-09-15). "Surgical management of orbital lymphangioma with the carbon dioxide laser". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 102 (3): 308–314.
doi:
10.1016/0002-9394(86)90003-6.
ISSN0002-9394.
PMID3752195.
^
abMaroon, J. C.; Abla, A. A. (1986-01-01). "Microlumbar discectomy". Clinical Neurosurgery. 33: 407–417.
ISSN0069-4827.
PMID3791810.
^
abMaroon, J. C.; Onik, G. (1987-01-01). "Percutaneous automated discectomy: a new method for lumbar disc removal. Technical note". Journal of Neurosurgery. 66 (1): 143–146.
doi:
10.3171/jns.1987.66.1.0143.
ISSN0022-3085.
PMID3783249.
^
abOnik, G.; Maroon, J.; Day, A.; Helms, C. (1988-01-01). "Automated Percutaneous Discectomy: Preliminary Experience". Proceedings of the 8th European Congress of Neurosurgery, Barcelona, September 6–11, 1987. Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum. Vol. 43. pp. 58–62.
doi:
10.1007/978-3-7091-8978-8_14.
ISBN978-3-7091-8980-1.
PMID3213658.
^
abMaroon, J. C.; Onik, G.; Sternau, L. (1989-01-01). "Percutaneous automated discectomy. A new approach to lumbar surgery". Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 238 (238): 64–70.
doi:
10.1097/00003086-198901000-00009.
ISSN0009-921X.
PMID2910619.
^
abMaroon, J. C.; Kopitnik, T. A.; Schulhof, L. A.; Abla, A.; Wilberger, J. E. (1990-03-01). "Diagnosis and microsurgical approach to far-lateral disc herniation in the lumbar spine". Journal of Neurosurgery. 72 (3): 378–382.
doi:
10.3171/jns.1990.72.3.0378.
ISSN0022-3085.
PMID2303871.
^Maroon, Joseph Charles; Bost, Jeffrey W. (2006-04-01). "Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain". Surgical Neurology. 65 (4): 326–331.
doi:
10.1016/j.surneu.2005.10.023.
ISSN0090-3019.
PMID16531187.