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.Lecture by Dr. Joseph Maroon at CNS Swimming with Sharks: Thriving in the Neurosurgery Match and Residency
On Oct 12, 2025, Neurosurgeon and Past President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Dr. Joseph Maroon, was the Chief Guest of a symposium, entitled, Swimming with Sharks: Thriving in the Neurosurgery Match and Residency.
The courses were described as:
In the challenging waters of neurosurgery training and career development, having experienced guides can make the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving. “Swimming with Sharks” offers a unique opportunity to learn from those who have successfully navigated these challenges and emerged stronger. Whether you’re just beginning to consider neurosurgery as a career path or you’re already deep in training, this course provides the tools, insights, and connections necessary to build
In the challenging waters of neurosurgery training and career development, having experienced guides can make the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving. “Swimming with Sharks” offers a unique opportunity to learn from those who have successfully navigated these challenges and emerged stronger.
Whether you’re just beginning to consider neurosurgery as a career path or you’re already deep in training, this course provides the tools, insights, and connections necessary to build resilience and achieve success in one of medicine’s most demanding fields and achieve success in one of medicine’s most demanding fields.
Building Resilience Lecture
Dr, Maroon has discussed resilience frequently as it pertains to Burn Out. His lecture contained many of the points discussed in his article, entitled, Building Resilience – See attached link (pages 24-25)- Dr Maroon focuses on Building Resilience –Preparing for Life’s Challenges. In the article Dr Maroon provides personal insights and tips on how you can “bounce back” from difficult experiences. He makes the analogy of an athlete recovering from injury and how training and conditioning can help us cope and overcome life stressors.
One way to improve your stress reaction is to improve your resilience to stress. Just like an athlete can train and build stronger muscles to lift heavier weights, resilience training can improve coping skills and help foster better decisions and outcomes to daily stressors. Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. In short, it means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences. Resilience is not a trait that people either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.
Being resilient does not mean that you don’t experience difficulty or distress. Emotional pain and sadness are common in people who have suffered major adversity or trauma in their lives. In fact, the road to resilience is likely to involve considerable emotional distress. Resilience is not a trait that people either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone. Dr Maroon provides a number of tips to improve resilience and overcome life stressors. He then discusses the benefits he has found with routine exercise as a stress reducer.