SKULL BASE NEUROSURGERY PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE NEWS

Highlights—new book strives for global outreach for excellence in skull base surgery education, clinical care and research

Since publication in June 2022, Contemporary Skull Base Surgery: A Comprehensive Guide to Functional Preservation, editor A. Samy Youssef, MD, PhD, (Director of CU Skull Base Surgery Program and Vice Chair of Education in Neurosurgery) continues to get feedback from skull base surgeons worldwide on its value in bridging the divide between the cranial and endoscopic camps. He says, “By inviting 96 authors from 10 countries to contribute chapters, this book has been featured at skull base courses and meetings around the world. These contributors have helped it become the surgeon’s go-to reference on how to treat the pathologies in this complex region.” CU Neurosurgery authors included Angela Downes, MD, Zachary Folzenlogen, MD, Timothy Ung, MD, and former fellows.

Meeting highlights

At the 22nd annual meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) in San Francisco, Dr. Youssef again hosted the SANS (SelfAssessment Neurosurgery Exams) challenge where top resident teams competed their way through rounds of questions covering a range of neurosurgical topics. First and Second place SANS winners are awarded trophies and cash prizes. Dr. Youssef says, “The SANS challenge gives residents a friendly competition and the chance to network with their peers who’ll become this generation’s lifelong friends and colleagues. SANS courses are essential in career-long learning as a neurosurgeon.”

Left: Dr. Youssef’s book signing for 200 copies was sponsored by Mizuho.

Right: Contemporary Skull Base Surgery included 20 chapters contributed by 24 authors from CU Departments of Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology. Previous page, bottom: Scenes from the CNS 2022.

Courses

The 7th annual “Microscopic and Endoscopic Approaches to the Skull Base” 3-day, hands-on course was held at the Center for Surgical Innovation at the CU School of Medicine in November 2022. Designed and directed by Dr. Youssef, the course included 24 guest faculty (renowned skull base surgeons from the United States, Europe and Mexico) who mentor 24 resident attendees in neurosurgery and otolaryngology from 22 institutions in the United States. John J. Reilly Jr., MD, dean of the CU School of Medicine, warmly welcomed the faculty and trainees in his opening address that included the historical highlights of the Anschutz Medical Campus.

The course was featured by Chris Casey, Director of Digital Storytelling, https://vimeo.com/794649088, and at the CU Anschutz Today newsroom post: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/newsstories/center-for-surgical-innovation-hosts-renowned-skull-base-course