Originally from Lebanon, Dr. Falah B. Maroun came to Newfoundland and Labrador in 1967 to do a three-week locum and has been in the province ever since.

He graduated from the French Faculty of Medicine in Beirut in 1960 before completing post-graduate training at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Dr. Maroun obtained his Canadian Fellowship in 1965 and his American Board of Neurological Surgery (Foreign Certificate) in 1966.

In 1968, Dr. Maroun became Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery in St. John’s and held that position for almost 40 years. Since 1968, he has been actively involved in clinical practice and teaching at Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine. He was Professor and Chairman of Surgery from 1989 to 1999 and Clinical Chief of the Surgery Program and Co-clinical Chief of the Peri-operative Program for the Health Care Corporation of St. John’s from 1996 to 1999. Dr. Maroun was the only neurosurgeon in Newfoundland and Labrador for a number of years.

Dr. Maroun has 73 publications to his credit and four in preparation. He has presented 228 papers and posters at national and international meetings. He produced a 25-minute movie on epilepsy titled “It’s a New Life” as well as a book on congenital spinal anomaly, both of which have been used as references for neurosurgeons and other physicians.

In 1968, Dr. Maroun recognized a need for improvement of post-operative care for neurosurgery patients and recognized that nurses were not well trained in this area. In response, he developed a curriculum and taught the first training course in Post-basic Neuro Sciences Nursing at the General Hospital. He continues to be involved in nurse training today.

In 1970, Dr. Maroun introduced and performed the first seizure surgery for epilepsy in Newfoundland and Labrador. During this period, St. John’s was one of the only places in the world that provided this type of surgery.

In 1974, Dr. Maroun was presented with the Knight of the Order of the Cedar of Lebanon for his great contribution to humanitarianism throughout the world and outstanding accomplishments as a Lebanese working in the specialty of neurosurgery in another country.

Dr. Maroun was instrumental in negotiating an agreement for the patients of St. Pierre et Miquelon to be treated in St. John’s rather than having to be sent to France. As a result of his commitment, he was awarded the Medaille de l’ordre de Merite of France (Order of Merit) in 2001.

In 2000 Dr. Maroun and several other neuroscience specialists worked with the Think First program led by Dr. Charles Tator and brought forward a curriculum in the province’s schools to educate students of the dangers of rough play and how to prevent head and neck injuries. The program has since been expanded for coaches and parents of children who play contact sports.

In 2002 Dr. Maroun was awarded the Order of Canada. He has been appointed lifetime Honorary President of the World Association of Lebanese Neurosurgeons and was instrumental in establishing the Lebanese Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.