University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Surgeons Take National Leadership Roles in Skull Base Surgery at NASBS
Dr. Zoukaa Sargi and Dr. Christine Dinh highlight advances in skull base surgery techniques and outcomes at the North American Skull Base Society meeting.
For decades, surgeons at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have helped advance the complex field of skull base surgery, developing less invasive, more patient-friendly techniques. That leadership was showcased this month at the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) meeting, where two Miller School faculty members assumed prominent NASBS roles.
University of Miami Faculty in National Leadership Roles at NASBS
Zoukaa Sargi, M.D., M.P.H., professor of otolaryngology — head and neck surgery and neurological surgery, began his term as NASBS president. Colleague Christine T. Dinh, M.D. ’08, vice chair of academic affairs, professor of otolaryngology — head and neck surgery and neurological surgery and the George Lerner University Chair in Otolaryngology, continued in her second year as co-chair for the meeting’s scientific program.
“Our team of neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, medical oncologists, ophthalmologists and others are well-represented and take notable leadership roles at NASBS,” said Fred F. Telischi, M.E.E., M.D., chair of otolaryngology — head and neck surgery, professor of neurological surgery and biomedical engineering and the James R. Chandler Chair in Otolaryngology at the Miller School. “This reflects our commitment to excellence in a challenging field.”
“Over the past 15 years, the University of Miami has become part of a small group of elite skull base programs with an international reputation,” said Dr. Sargi. “When anyone is talking about skull base surgery, we are among the best places to receive care.”
Advancing Skull Base Surgery Through Team Science
Skull base surgery sits at the crossroads of the brain, cranial nerves, sensory organs, major blood vessels and critical glands. There is no margin for error. The anatomy is intricate. The space is narrow. The stakes are high. To meet these challenges, skull base surgery has evolved into one of medicine’s most collaborative disciplines — a true team sport.
The NASBS meeting is important because it’s one of the few conferences that includes multiple specialists. It’s a blend of predominantly neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists, but also radiation oncologists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and endocrinologists.
“The mix reflects real-world surgical suites where, for example, neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists bring their expertise and understanding of the complex area connecting the brain with the head and neck,” said Dr. Dinh. “Patients with complex diseases affecting the base of skull need both, and more.”
“With otolaryngologists and neurosurgeons working together, we are operating through the nose or the ear to get to the central nervous system,” said Dr. Sargi. “If we’re working through the eye socket, we bring eye surgeons onto the team. Sometimes, we need reconstructive specialists as well. Skull base surgery is a team sport.”
Drs. Sargi, Dinh and colleagues brought this team ethos to the conference, giving diverse specialists unique opportunities to interact outside the operating room. The conference hosted discussions about managing pituitary gland conditions, vestibular schwannoma and meningiomas, amongst many other topics.
Tackling the Most Complex Anatomy in Modern Surgery
By definition, skull base surgery addresses issues around the brain: the ears (lateral skull base), the nose and sinuses (anterior skull base), the areas around the cheeks (infratemporal fossa) and the base of the skull in the back (craniocervical junction).
Specialists mix and match expertise based on the issues they are addressing, which could include benign or malignant tumors, cysts, tangled blood vessels and other issues.
“Many tumors in that region are benign, but can still be debilitating,” said Dr. Sargi. “Benign pituitary gland or vestibular nerve tumors are good examples. There are also cancers that start in the sinus cavities, close to the eye socket, and infiltrate to the base of the skull. We have to follow these tumors to ensure we get all of the disease, when possible.”
In recent years, new tools have emerged to help surgeons access hard-to-reach anatomy. Roy Casiano, M.D., Miller School professor of otolaryngology — head and neck surgery, was one of the first to use an endoscope to remove skull base tumors.
The NASBS meeting focused on advancing technology. Skull base surgery has embraced microscopes and augmented reality to visualize tiny structures, as well as surgical navigators, which resemble GPS systems, importing CT or MRI images so surgeons see clearly during procedures.
“Because we often operate in narrow spaces, it’s sometimes difficult to picture the three-dimensionality of these structures,” said Dr. Sargi. “Using these technologies to help understand the anatomy makes these procedures safer and more efficient with less impact on patients.”
Shaping the Future of the North American Skull Base Society
During his presidential year, Dr. Sargi will continue efforts to promote the society’s mission, as well as expanding membership and increasing engagement opportunities. When the group was founded in 1989, it had a small membership of neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists. Now the society is rapidly expanding and adding radiation and medical oncologists, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists and other subspecialists. One of Dr. Sargi’s top goals will be growing the society’s infrastructure to accommodate this broader group.
“With the talent and momentum we have today, this is a defining moment for NASBS,” Dr. Sargi said. “We are expanding and modernizing the society so it reflects how skull base surgery is truly practiced — collaborative, technology-enabled, patient-centered and outcome-driven. Our responsibility is not only to innovate, but to ensure that innovation translates into safer surgery and better lives for patients. I’m honored to help lead that future.”
NASBS president, L. Madison Michael II, M.D., FAANS, there’s one below. There was a ceremonial passing of the gavel.
“Handing over the gavel to Dr. Sargi, and knowing that this meeting every year gets better and better, I know Nashville in 2027 is going to continue the legacy of NASBS being an amazing meeting,” said outgoinging NASBS president L. Madison Michael II, M.D., a University of Tennessee professor of Professor of neurosurgery and otolaryngology.
More from the North American Skull Base Society Conference
Reanimating the Face: The Case for Early Nerve Repair in Skull Base Surgery
Early facial nerve repair during skull base tumor surgery can improve blinking, smiling, and long‑term recovery, Miller School surgeons say.
Expert Strategies for Managing Recurrent CSF Leaks
University of Miami experts explain how to manage recurrent CSF leaks with tailored skull base reconstruction strategies.
Why Genetics Should Guide Treatment for Pediatric Paragangliomas
Most pediatric paragangliomas are driven by inherited mutations. Genetic testing can guide treatment decisions and reduce metastatic risk.
Tags: Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Christine Dinh, Dr. Zoukaa Sargi, head and neck cancers, otolaryngology, Skull-base surgery, team science, vestibular schwannoma