(Indianapolis, IN — March 4, 2022) – The NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) awarded the Arthur C. Rettig Award for Academic Excellence to Joseph C. Maroon, M.D., neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 38 years. His research was presented at the NFLPS scientific meeting during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in a presentation, “The Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment (HBOT) for Post-Concussion Syndrome, PTSD and Physical Performance Enhancement.”
The prestigious award is given annually to an NFL team physician for academic excellence in research in advancing the health and safety of players in the NFL.
“Dr. Maroon has been a longtime contributor to the NFL Physicians Society and has been a leader in the area of evaluation and management of concussions in football. Dr. Maroon continues to evaluate innovative approaches to managing post concussive symptoms,” said Dr. Scott Rodeo, Chair of the NFLPS Scientific meeting and head team physician for the N.Y. Giants.
Dr. Maroon, a team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1985, and now a consultant to the team, is a clinical professor and vice chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is the first neurosurgeon to receive this honor. In addition to being a renowned neurosurgeon, he is a sports medicine expert, health and nutrition expert and Ironman triathlete. He was inducted into the Lou Holtz Hall of Fame along with Joe Montana and Kareem Abdul Jabbar and also the National Fitness Hall of Fame.
Dr. Maroon is the author of six books, and co-author of 40 book chapters and over 300 published scientific papers. He has given more than 200 presentations at national and international conferences and is often invited as visiting professor and key-note speaker. He has served on the editorial boards of eight medical and neurological journals. He received the Jerome Bettis Man of the Year for Humanism award and is past-President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the largest society of Neurosurgeons in the world.
“I am so honored to be given this incredible award in Dr. Rettig’s name, who has made such important contributions to player health and safety and sports medicine throughout his career. Additionally, I am humbled to be recognized alongside a group of such impressive physicians who are truly giants in the field,” said Dr. Maroon.
The Arthur C. Rettig Award was established in 2013 to recognize an NFL team physician for excellence in academic research and advancing the health and safety of players in the NFL. Dr. Arthur Rettig is a highly respected orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and disorders of the upper extremities. He has been a leading member of the Colts medical staff since the team arrived in Indianapolis in 1984, and recently stepped down as head team physician.
The winner of the last Arthur C. Rettig Award was Dr. Asheesh Bedi, former Team Orthopedic Physician for the Detroit Lions.
