Dr. Maroon received an athletic scholarship to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where as an undergraduate, he was named a Scholastic All-American in football. Dr. Maroon has successfully maintained his personal athletic interests through participation in 9 marathons and more than 72 Olympic-distance triathlon events. However, his greatest athletic accomplishment is his participation in 8 Ironman triathlons (Hawaii – 1993, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2013; Canada – 1995; New Zealand – 1997; Germany – 2000), where he usually finishes in the top 10 of his age group. Recently, in July 2012 and 2013, he finished second and third, respectively, in his age group in the Muncie, Indiana half Ironman triathlon. In October 2013 he completed his 5th World Championship Ironman in Kona, Hawaii.Dr. Joseph Maroon Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan
Dr. Joseph Maroon, professor and Vice chair of Neurosurgery was the visiting professor at the University of Michigan on July 1st and 2nd, 2026. He gave two presentations to the Faculty and Residents.
- Success, failure, and creativity in NEUROSURGERY-The importance of KaiZen and Serendipity
- Spinal and brain injuries in sports – past present and future.
He spent the day meeting and counseling Neurosurgical Residents And visiting the outstanding
Resident Dr. Mark Zaki, former University of Pittsburgh graduate, and Chairman, Dr. Aditya Pandey, nationally recognized expert in endovascular treatment of stroke and aneurysms, and a pioneer in focused ultrasound of the brain.
Facilities at the University of Michigan where pioneers like Drs. Richard Schneider, Buzz Hof, Karin Muraszko who had an immense impact on NEUROSURGERY and Dr. Maroon’s career in sports medicine.
He was hosted by Resident Dr. Mark Zaki, former University of Pittsburgh grad and Chairman, Dr. Aditya Pandey, Nationally recognized expert in endovascular treatment of stroke and aneurysms, and a pioneer in focused Ultrasound of the Brain.
Ultrasound Non-Invasive Surgery
Ultrasound surgery for the brain is also being done at UPMC and is known as Focused Ultrasound (FUS), offered by the UPMC Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery. It is an incisionless, non-invasive procedure that uses precisely targeted sound waves to treat deep areas of the brain without requiring cuts or radiation. The treatment works via two primary methods, depending on the energy frequency used: Thermal Ablation: Delivers high-intensity ultrasound beams to generate heat and destroy tiny, specific areas of tissue (e.g., a 2-millimeter spot) responsible for involuntary movements. Mechanical Blood-Brain Barrier Opening: Under ongoing clinical investigation, lower frequencies temporarily open the blood-brain barrier to improve the delivery of medications for complex conditions like brain tumors, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease.
In June of 2025, Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez and his team performed the inaugural ultrasonically guided treatment for essential tremor in a patient at the new Joseph C. Maroon MD UPMC MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound Unit at Presbyterian hospital. Dr. Gonzalez-Martinez, Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at UPMC, discussed how focused ultrasound offers patients a noninvasive alternative to conventional treatment for such things as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor and, in the future, possible drug and alcohol addiction, mood disorders and more.