For over a century, neurological surgeons have been involved in the medical management of athletes. This includes the direct treatment of injuries to the brain, spine and spinal column, and peripheral nerves. The specialty, unlike any other, can address pathology in all of these areas. Advancing the science of brain and spinal cord injury has also been driven in large part by neurosurgical laboratories. Neurosurgeons have been instrumental in the development of treatment paradigms including return to play guidelines and the acute management of severe brain and spinal cord injuries.
The City of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh has been the epicenter of much of this marriage of neurosurgery and sports. From the development of modern neuropsychological testing to the first diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, our institution's physicians have led the way.
Because of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurosurgery’s close connection to sports and the Pittsburgh area's professional and collegiate teams and athletes, the opportunity to develop a fellowship in sports neurosurgery has become possible. Our department currently has seven faculty with direct involvement in teams in the Pittsburgh area. The Joseph Maroon Sports Fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for interested residents to spend a dedicated period of their training with neurosurgeons subspecializing in professional and collegiate sports teams. Residents also have the opportunity to rotate with other specialties such as neuropsychology, orthopedics, and athletic training. These rotations would allow the participant to experience how these specialties approach mutual pathologies that we treat as a team.
Clinical Rotations
Neuropsychology Concussion Clinics
Hand/Upper Extremity Clinics
Neurointerventional Neuroradiology
Sports Science/Wellness and Human Performance
Professional Sports Training Facility
Primary Care Sports Clinics
Orthopedics Sports Clinics
Fellowship Directors
Joseph C. Maroon, MD
Vincent J. Miele, MD
Fellowship Co-Directors
David O. Okonkwo, MD, PhD
Daniel A. Wecht, MD
Fellowship Core Faculty
Vikas Agarwal, MD
James P. Bradley, MD
Michael W. Collins, PhD
Jeanne M Doperak, DO
MaCalus V. Hogan, MD
L. Dade Lunsford, MD
Craig S. Mauro, MD
Bradley C. Nindl, PhD
Past Fellows
Zachary Gersey, MD, 2023-24
Hanna Algattas, MD, 2022-23
John W. Amburgy, MD, 2022-23
Edward Andrews, MD, 2022-23
Nima Alan, MD, 2020-21
Nitin Agarwal, MD, 2019-20
Enyinna Nwachuku, MD, 2019-20