Dr. Joseph Maroon does not just walk the wander and speak the discuss.
The UMPC neurosurgeon, who not long ago celebrated his 82nd birthday, has been a triathlete for most of his daily life and a proponent of a wholesome way of life.
He’s a staunch advocate of the “sound overall body, seem mind” way of existence that encourages best well being and peak performance.
And he adheres to this way of living by eating plan, actual physical exercise, avoidance of environmental toxins, stress regulate and satisfactory sleep.
“I have completed 8 Ironman length triathlons (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle, 26.2-mile operate) and operate five globe triathlon championship races in Kona, Hawaii,” Maroon explained. “The cause I do the races is I’m incredibly cognizant of the brain-physique connection: How the thoughts can make the human body sick (heart attacks, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome), but more importantly how the body can mend the mind.
“Aerobic activity is the extremely very best antidepressant and anti-panic.”
Maroon is acknowledged globally for his do the job on learning concussions and concussion avoidance, as very well as his speculation on the progress of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
The Sewickley resident not too long ago corralled next location in his age division in the triathlon occasion at the Countrywide Senior Game titles, previously acknowledged as the Countrywide Senior Olympics, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Additional than 12,000 guys and gals ages 50 several years and more mature participated in 21 sports at the NSG, reputed to be the major multi-activity celebration in the globe for senior grownups. The simple goal of the video games is to advertise health and fitness and wellness for senior grownups 50-and-around by health, training and sport.
The 2023 Nationwide Senior Online games will get spot in Pittsburgh Maroon is planning to take part. They also were being held in Pittsburgh in 2005. Maroon also attended individuals online games.
The UPMC doctor, who has 5 small children, has been a neurosurgeon for 39 yrs. He’s participated in a lot more than 90 triathlons.
Maroon played football at Indiana College at Bloomington, coached by Phil Dickens, and was a Scholastic All-American. He held the dashing record at IU, averaging 5.3 yards for every carry, until eventually it was broken by Antwann Randel El.
Randel El afterwards played for the Steelers from 2002-05 ahead of signing with Washington as a no cost agent, then returned to the Steelers in 2010 for one closing NFL year.
Maroon graduated from Indiana with a B.A. in 1962 and his M.D. in 1965.
Since then, he has seen the entire world.
Along with touring to Hawaii, Maroon has competed in triathlons in Canada, New Zealand and Germany. On the “local” front, he has competed in races in Indiana, Delaware, Ohio and Florida.
Maroon was inducted into the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Corridor of Fame for athletic achievements and contributions to sports medicine in 1999, alongside with Joe Montana, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, John Havilcheck and Phil Niekro.
“Phil, John and I grew up jointly in Bridgeport, Ohio,” the UPMC neurosurgeon mentioned, “with a populace of 4,300. We all did pretty effectively.”
Maroon also is a member of the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports activities Hall of Fame and National Physical fitness Hall of Fame in Chicago.
He served as the health-related director of the Lifestyle Free African Independence tour in 2014. In that capability, Maroon, together with his daughter Isabella and a group of amputees, summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, the optimum freestanding mountain in the environment.
He has served as a neurosurgical expert for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 35 yrs and was the to start with neurosurgeon instantly appointed in the NFL. He is professor and vice chairman of the Department of Neurological Operation at UPMC, and is the present-day health-related director of the WWE.
Maroon has resolved many health and fitness subject areas in far more than 700 interviews on local, national and satellite Tv, radio reveals and podcasts. He is quoted usually as an professional supply by national media, together with the New York Situations, United states Nowadays, Affiliated Press, ESPN, Athletics Illustrated, ABC News Nightline, Buyer Report, NewsMax, Cosmopolitan Journal and Exterior Magazine.
And as if he has any spare time, Maroon also is an creator. He has had 7 guides revealed.
“The past was ‘Square Just one: A Very simple Manual to a Balanced Everyday living,’ in which I depth the methods for longevity and how to die young … as late as probable,” he reported. “Sanjay Gupta, CNN health care correspondent, said ‘This ebook previously has transformed my life.’”
To buy a reserve, go to josephmaroon.com.
Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.