The membership of the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) is a tremendous resource for the training of fellows, who are the future of the development of our specialty. The society has developed a registry of skull base fellowships that are offered by the society membership.
The society recognizes that we are a diverse and multidisciplinary group comprised of several different specialties, all of whom have significant interest and focus in the management of skull base neoplasia. Likewise, the nature and character of the various fellowships will represent and reflect their differences. In addition, we recognize that there will be variation between individual fellowship experiences resulting from the differences in the preceptor’s approaches and practices.
To post a Fellowship, please go to the Fellowship Registry Entry Form. You must be a member of NASBS to add a Fellowship to the Registry.
To edit an entry, please log in under the Member credentials used to add the entry to the registry and make edits to the listing.
To apply for Fellowship training, please contact the program directly.
If you need assistance or have questions, please contact the NASBS office at [email protected].
| Title of Fellowship | Advanced Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Fellowship |
|---|---|
| Contact Name for Applications | Doron Sommer |
| Fellowship Type |
|
| Location | Hamilton, ON, Canada |
| Date Fellowship Established | 07/01/2021 |
| Fellowship Director | Doron Sommer |
| Participating Faculty | Doron Sommer, Kesava Reddy, Justin Khetani |
Fellowship Information | |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Required Prior Training Program |
|
| Required Prior Training Program Other | Otolaryngology H&N surgical residency completion |
| Fellow needs to have full medical license | Yes |
| Accept Foreign Medical Graduates (outside US & Canada) | Yes |
| Foreign Medical Graduates Eligibility Requirements | Successful applicants require a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) license. Amongst other requirements, to obtain licensure of clinical fellows by the CPSO, candidates must be recognized as a medical specialists in the jurisdiction where the candidate has been practicing medicine prior to the clinical fellowship |
| Residency Training in US/Canada Required | No |
| USMLE |
|
| Percentage of Fellow Workload that is Skull Base | 50% |
| Number of Fellows Accepted Per Year | 1 |
| Salaried Position | Yes- contact Program Director for more information |
| Night and Weekend Call | Yes |
| Estimated Nights Per Month | 6 |
| Clinical Work | |
| Average Operative Skull Base Cases Per Year | 80-100 endoscopic anterior skull base (transnasal or transorbital) cases per year as well as approximately 150-200 endoscopic sinus surgical cases per year. Overall, the experience includes inflammatory paranasal sinus disorders, revision sinus surgery, complex frontal and sphenoid sinus disease and minimally invasive approaches to the paranasal sinuses and skull base for treatment of pathologies including infection, optic nerve lesions, CSF leak management and resection of benign and malignant sinonasal neoplasms utilizing trans-nasal and trans-orbital endoscopic approaches. |
| Open Cranial Base | |
| Anterior | Data not available |
| Anterolateral/Infratemporal | Data not available |
| Lateral (temporal bone) | Data not availanle |
| Posterior | Data not available |
| Endonasal Cranial Base | |
| Pituitary/Sella | Data not available |
| Sagittal Plane (excluding pituitary) | Data not available |
| Transpterygoid/ Coronal Plane | Data not available |
| Temporal Bone | |
| Transtemporal/ Transcochlear | Data not available |
| Middle fossa | Data not available |
| Retrosigmoid | Data not available |
| Craniofacial Anomalies/ Reconstructive | |
| Craniofacial Anomalies/ Reconstructive | Data not available |
| Trauma | |
| Craniocervical | |
| Transcervical | Data not available |
| Transoral | Data not available |
| Endonasal | Other |
| Reconstruction | |
| Cranioplasty | Data not available |
| Regional, Pedicled Flap Repair | Data not available |
| Free Flap Repair | Data not available |
| Stereotactic Radiosurgery | |
| Gammaknife | Data not available |
| Cyberknife | Data not available |
| Cerebral Vascular Surgery | |
| Cyberknife | Data not available |
| Transcranial | Data not available |
| Endovascular | Data not available |
| Anatomical Dissection Laboratory | Available |
| Laboratory Research Opportunities | Available depending on interest of the fellow. |
| Application Deadline | 02/01/2030 |
| Decision Deadline | 02/01/2030 |
| Previous Fellows | Dr. Tobial McHugh 2020/2021 - Canada - Currently academic staff at McGill University, Montreal, Canada Dr. Thomas Nguyen 2022-2023 – Sydney, Australia Dr. Afiq Slim 2023-2024 – Glasgow, Scotland Dr. Yousif Al Ammar 2024-2025 – Montreal, Canada |
| Additional Features of the Fellowship | Rotations The fellowship is based at Hamilton Health Sciences - HHS (McMaster University Medical Centre and Hamilton General Hospital). The fellow works with the rhinology/skull-base attending staff in the clinic and operating room. There are no set rotations, however the fellow assignments are arranged for participation in more complex revision sinus and skull base cases and rhinology focused clinics as well as combined skull bases/pituitary clinics or respiratory/sinus clinics. The fellow will also be expected to take part in on call duties as well as help in the provision of routine and more urgent care for inpatients and emergency department patients. These clinical opportunities may be modified to allow fulfillment of clinical, research and educational interests. Weekly Schedule The weekly schedule mirrors the schedule of the attending rhinology service at HHS. On average, there are 1-2 days of OR and approximately 2-3 days of clinic. The remainder of available time is allocated to research, education or other clinical endeavours. Diversity of Cases |
| Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST) Accredited | No |
| How to apply | Clinical fellows must be eligible for a certificate authorizing postgraduate education from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The CPSO requires the applicant be recognized as a medical specialist in the jurisdiction where the applicant has been practicing medicine. Trainees apply to the CPSO only after they have been accepted into a clinical fellowship program. The application process: Initial expression of interest including CV and references may be sent to: [email protected] After successful application, candidates complete the McMaster Postgraduate application form and depending on Canadian vs international status, submit documentation including: Up-to-date CV (must be up-to-date within 6 months of application submission) McMaster Dept of Surgery application link: https://pgme.mcmaster.ca/apply/fellowships-application/ Application deadline is not firm, the position will be filled as an appropriate candidate is selected. This generally occurs approximately 12-18 months prior to start date of fellowship (generally July-July) To submit your application or for further information, please contact: Doron Sommer MD, FRCSC Additional information (needed only after successful application): For non-Canadians, other information is necessary, including: Eight weeks prior to the program start date, trainees must complete the McMaster health screening Requirements for Canadians coming from outside of Ontario: |