Dr. Maroon is Clinical Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and the Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. He did his undergraduate work at Indiana University where he was a Scholastic All American in football and received his medical education at Indiana (Bloomington), Oxford (England) and Georgetown Universities and the University of Vermont.

He served on the Mylan Laboratories Board of Directors from 2003 to 2017 and served as Chairman of the Scientific and Technology Committee. In 1990, he co-developed the ImPACT neurocognitive test which is the only FDA approved test for concussion assessment and is the standard of care in most amateur and professional sports organizations. He is also chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board to General Nutrition Corporation, chairman of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board of Stemedica, a pioneering company in the therapeutic use of stem cells and senior vice president of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), one of the largest medical societies in the world for preventive medicine.

He has been the team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 30 years and the first neurosurgeon directly appointed in the NFL. In November 2016, he was appointed to the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Chuck Noll Foundation dedicated to research and education in the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries to the brain. He is a senior member of the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee and also medical director of World Wrestling Entertainment Corporation (WWE).

He has published over 285 peer review papers, 58 book chapters and 6 books. In 2017, his book on overcoming adversity and “burnout”, Square One—A Simple Guide to a Balanced Life, was favorably reviewed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, John Scully, Greg Norman, and others. In 2011, he was recognized as an Indiana University Distinguished Alumnus, an award given to 5 individuals out of 500,000 alumni annually.

Dr. Maroon received the Physician Excellence Clinician of Courage award, given to one UPMC faculty out of 4,000 in 2020. Going forward, the award will be known as the Joseph C. Maroon Clinician of Courage Award.

He received The Humanitarian of the Year Award from The Jerome Bettis “The Bus Stops Here” Foundation in 2018.

Dr. Maroon retains a strong athletic interest, having competed in 8 ironman distance triathlons, five at the annual World Triathlon Championship in Kona, Hawaii, the last in 2013. In 2016, he placed first in his age group and fifth globally in the Ironman 70.3 triathlon, and he continues to compete in triatholons.

Dr. Maroon was inducted into the Lou Holtz Hall of Fame along with Joe Montana and Kareem Abdul Jabbar for athletic accomplishments and contributions to sports medicine. He was also inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in Chicago and the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. He is frequently quoted as an expert source by national media including The New York Times, USA Today, Associated Press, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and ABC News Nightline.