Surgical innovation is a defining element of the Division of Skull Base Surgery's mission, with direct impact on advancing patient care. Our faculty lead the development of new operative strategies and clinical pathways that improve outcomes for patients with pituitary tumors, vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas and other complex skull base disorders. Through multidisciplinary clinics and a growing portfolio of clinical trials, we are expanding the evidence base for novel therapies and optimizing the integration of surgery with adjunctive treatments such as radiosurgery, targeted medical therapy and advanced imaging. This commitment to innovation ensures that patients benefit from the safest, most effective and least invasive treatment approaches available.
Supporting this clinical mission, our Microneurosurgery Laboratory provides the foundation for anatomical discovery and technical refinement. The lab investigates the microsurgical anatomy of the brain and skull base, developing new techniques that translate directly into operative practice. Work integrates emerging technologies — including virtual reality for surgical simulation and planning, and artificial intelligence for image analysis and decision support — linking the lab to the operating room in a continuous cycle of discovery and application. By combining clinical research, multidisciplinary collaboration and anatomical investigation, the program is advancing the frontiers of skull base neurosurgery while shaping the next generation of surgical care.
Patient Care
The Division of Skull Base Surgery is dedicated to the comprehensive management of complex cranial base pathology through a model that integrates clinical excellence, innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration. Our faculty are internationally recognized for expertise in microneurosurgery, advanced endoscopic skull base techniques and stereotactic radiosurgery, offering patients access to the full breadth of contemporary treatment modalities. The division’s mission is to advance the highest standards of care while serving as a center of innovation, education and discovery in the field of skull base surgery.
Our clinical structure emphasizes subspecialized expertise, with dedicated programs for pituitary tumors, meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas and a wide spectrum of skull base neoplasms and vascular lesions. Patient care is delivered through coordinated collaboration with colleagues in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, oculoplastics and other disciplines, ensuring comprehensive, patient-specific treatment strategies. This integrated approach reflects our commitment not only to excellence in outcomes, but also to leadership in shaping the evolving practice of skull base neurosurgery at the national and international levels.
Skull Base Fellowship
The Skull Base Neurosurgery Fellowship offers comprehensive exposure to the full spectrum of skull base pathology, with fellows participating in more than 250 operative cases annually. The program provides robust experience in microneurosurgery, advanced endoscopic skull base surgery, and stereotactic radiosurgery, ensuring broad technical training across the range of approaches used in modern skull base practice. Fellows are fully integrated into multidisciplinary teams and gain experience in the management of pituitary tumors, meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas, and a wide variety of complex cranial base lesions.
In addition to surgical training, the fellowship emphasizes academic development and professional growth. Fellows are supported in presenting research at national and international conferences, encouraged to participate in specialized surgical courses, and expected to take an active role in clinical research initiatives. Opportunities extend to collaborative projects in the Microneurosurgery Laboratory, advancing anatomical and translational studies, as well as contributions to resident education and teaching. This balanced integration of clinical expertise, research, and education prepares graduates of the fellowship to emerge as future leaders in skull base neurosurgery at both the national and international levels.
