2025 Proffered Presentations
S136: THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY FROM THE RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY PRESIDENTS
Karenna J Groff1; Aneek Patel1; Carter M Suryadevara1; David B Kurland1; Akshay Save1; Donato Pacione1; John G Golfinos1; Carl H Snyderman2; Chandranath Sen1; 1NYU Langone Health; 2University of Pittsburgh
Skull base surgery is a highly innovative, multidisciplinary field that today demands collaboration between teams of neurosurgeons, otolaryngology-head and neck surgeons (OHNS), plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, radiation oncologists and others. However, not long ago, this nascent field was instead characterized by isolated individual brilliance. Here, we explore the contributions of several key players towards breaking dogmatic silos, overcoming rigid barriers and transforming the field into one that encourages and fosters collaboration. Our analysis centers on the formation of the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS), and the instrumental role it played in the development of skull base surgery. We analyzed documents from initial NASBS meetings and interviewed twelve past-presidents of the NASBS and two prominent figures in skull base surgery (Figure 1).
Several key players propelled the growth of skull base surgery in the late 20th century. Interestingly, each of these individuals sought out education from not only mentors within their field, but also across specialties. Gradually, interdisciplinary intraoperative collaboration emerged on a national level as the most effective means of approaching the skull base region. Paul Donald, 1st NASBS President, described the new mentality that “if you do it together, you get the best of each specialty.” In March 1987, “a group of about 18-20 neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists got together and met at a working group meeting,” as Jatin Shah, 15th NASBS President, recalls. Donald described that meeting in the first edition of the Petrous Pulse, the official newsletter of the NASBS, noting that “the discussions lead to the decision to form a Skull Base Study Group” (Figure 2).
The NASBS was founded in 1989 with the mission of facilitating worldwide communication and collaboration between individuals pursuing clinical and research excellence in skull base surgery. The group held its first organizational meeting in February 1989, and its first NASBS Annual Meeting in February 1990 with Paul Donald serving as the inaugural president (Figure 2, 3). Donald formally invited select physicians to attend the meeting as founding members of this, “exciting new organization that is eclectic in its scope, encompassing a number of diverse specialties all striving for a common goal that is at the frontier and cutting edge of medicine” (Figure 3).
The NASBS has grown enormously in the 35 years since its establishment. According to Shah, it expanded from 40 attendees at its first organizational meeting to approximately 250 founding members (Figure 4A). Now, the NASBS has 1157 members with over 1000 attendees at its most recent 33rd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA (Figure 4C). Formal fellowship training has also played a fundamental role in disseminating knowledge and technical expertise to allow the field to grow. In 1992 there were only seven skull base fellowships available nationally (Figure 4D). Today, there are 60 multidisciplinary skull base fellowships available. Furthermore, the NASBS remains highly multidisciplinary in its membership (Figure 4B,C). Collaboration and innovation have been fundamental to skull base surgery since the subspecialty’s inception and will continue to elevate the field in years to come.
