In the field of neurosurgery, skull base surgery is a highly specialized and complex branch that involves operations on the skull base area, including the brain, cranial nerves, blood vessels, and surrounding neck structures. Skull base lesions involve multiple disciplines, and their diagnosis and treatment are quite specialized. It is crucial to have a multidisciplinary team for evaluation and surgical treatment. With the advancement of technology and innovation in surgical methods, skull base surgery training programs have emerged to cultivate medical experts with superb skills and profound knowledge to meet patients' demands for high-quality medical services.

Skull base surgery, due to its complexity and risk, requires surgeons to have exquisite surgical skills and extensive medical knowledge. As the population ages and the incidence of skull base diseases increases, the demand for skull base surgeons is growing. Therefore, establishing a comprehensive training program to ensure that doctors can master the latest technologies and treatment methods is crucial for improving patient treatment outcomes and quality of life.

1. Theoretical Learning: Covering basic and advanced knowledge in skull base anatomy, pathology, imaging, and surgical techniques.

2. Simulation Training: Using simulation equipment for surgical operation practice to improve surgical skills and reduce surgical risks.

3. Clinical Internship: Participating in actual surgeries under the guidance of experienced mentors to gain practical experience.

4. Research Projects: Engaging in or initiating research projects related to skull base surgery to promote academic development and technological innovation.

5. Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborating with other medical professionals to learn how to work in a team environment.

· To provide systematic education and practical training so that participants can master the basic and advanced surgical techniques of skull base surgery.

· To cultivate participants' clinical decision-making abilities to make the best choices in complex surgical situations.

· To strengthen participants' teamwork capabilities, as skull base surgery often requires collaboration among multidisciplinary teams.

· To promote participants' understanding of the latest research and technological innovations to maintain a leading position in the field.

The program provides a full-time, 3-month training experience. In special circumstances, arrangements can be made for other lengths of training depending on your needs and interests.

Fellows: Qualified applicants for the skull base fellowship must have completed a neurosurgery residency program at an accredited institution

Neurosurgery and otolaryngology clinical anatomy experts will give lectures. Starting from the perspective of a skull base surgeon, the goal is to enhance clinical diagnosis and treatment capabilities as well as clinical research skills. Furthermore, the program will integrate skull base, endoscopic, and extracranial-intracranial bypass techniques for blood vessels.

Focus areas & Subspecialties:

1. management of vestibular schwannoma

2. treatment strategies of skull base meningiomas

3. pituitary adenoma

4. craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst

5. the role of revascularization in skull base surgery

6. transcranial versus endoscopic repair of CSF leakage

7. cranioplasty techniques

Monday

1st Week: Introduction & welcome, program overview and objectives, department introduction

Weekly: MDT conferences, complicated case study

Weekly: Mentor one-on-one training:

Tuesday

Weekly: Outpatient observation, academic lecture, basic surgical skills training

Biweekly: Research training

Wednesday

Weekly: Clinical rounds, surgery observation, case-based discussion, teaching rounds

Biweekly: Simulated surgery training

Weekly: Lectures

Thursday

Weekly: Surgical skills training:

Biweekly: Surgery hands-on

Friday

Weekly: Clinical rounds, clinical skills training

After each rotation, each faculty member evaluates each fellow according to core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice. Faculty members meet with fellows individually for verbal feedback and evaluation. For endoscopy, technical competence is evaluated through specifically designed evaluation forms, a simulator laboratory, and through a semiannual skills assessment program. Monthly, an aggregate evaluation of a fellow's clinical progress is conducted through a clinical competency faculty committee.

The program is free of charge.