Pittsburgh, March 16, 2010 -- Joseph Maroon, MD, clinical professor of neurosurgery and Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience at the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, March 14, 2010. The National Fitness Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in Chicago, IL, in 2005 to honor those who have made exceptional contributions to physical fitness and sports medicine in the United States.

Previous honorees include Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder of the aerobics movement; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; Jack LaLane, pioneer in physical fitness; Bill Pearl, former Mr. Universe, Jane Fonda and many more. Dr. Maroon was honored for both his contributions to sports medicine and also his own athletic and fitness pursuits. He, along with Dr. Mark Lovell, co-developed the ImPACT™ neurocognitive computer based test that is now the standard of care in the NFL, NHL, major league baseball and over 3,000 high schools and colleges in the United States. It is used to determine when an athlete may return to contact sports after a concussion.

Dr. Maroon receives his National Fitness Hall of Fame induction plaque from Dr. Robert Goldman, President of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and a 2006 Hall of Fame inductee.

Dr. Maroon also has completed over 70 triathlons, six of these Ironman distances (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run). He last completed the Hawaiian Ironman in 2008 in Kona, Hawaii and has qualified again for the 2010 Hawaiian Ironman.

His most recent book, The Longevity Factor: How Red Wine and Resveratrol Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life, was endorsed by Dr. Oz, Sanjay Gupta and Greg Norman—all health enthusiasts. In it he summarizes his recommendations for a healthy, fit and balanced life