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Carle Illinois Microsurgery and Endoscopic Hands-On Course

The Carle Illinois Microsurgery and Endoscopic Hands-On Course is an annual two-day course focused on giving hands-on training in microsurgical and endoscopic approaches.

Providing a unique training environment, with an emphasis on advancing brain surgery instruction for future neurosurgeons, participants focus on developing new skills and expertise needed for these intricate procedures.

 

Expected dates for 2025 course:

Friday, August 8 –

Saturday, August 9, 2025


Welcome from the Course Director

Wael Mostafa On behalf of Carle Foundation Hospital and our partners at the University of Illinois, I welcome each one of you to the Carle Illinois Microsurgery and Endoscopic Hands-On Course. Advancing academic and educational training has been at the core of the Carle Neuroscience Institute. We are fortunate to have world-class faculty who will provide you with a fantastic and unique training opportunity. Thank you for attending!

— Wael Mostafa, MD, PhD


This two-day course is free to invited residents and fellows of ACGME-accredited neurosurgery programs and invited faculty. Each day will include lectures and cadaveric dissection that focus on microsurgical approaches (day one) and endoscopic approaches (day two). For more information, please contact neurosurgery.course@carle.com

This event is hosted by Carle Health in conjunction with Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.


Neuroscience Institute

Carle is home to some of the most advanced services and technology available to treat conditions of the brain, spine and nervous system.

VISIT INSTITUTE

2024 Agenda

Friday, August 9, Microsurgery Day

7:00 - 7:30 a.m.
Welcome & Breakfast

7:30 - 8:00 a.m.
The Pterional Approach and Its Applications (Troy Payner)

8:05 - 8:35 a.m.
Anterior Clinoidectomy (Kushal Shah)

8:40 - 9:10 a.m.
Surgical Exposure of Cavernous Sinus (A. Samy Youssef)

9:15 a.m. - noon
Cadaver Dissection (All Faculty)

Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch with Vendors

1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Aziz Annual Lecture: Approaches to Anterior Cranial Fossa (Michael Chicoine)

1:35 - 2:05 p.m.
Retrosigmoid Approach (Steven Carr)

2:10 - 2:40 p.m.

Transpetrosal Approaches (Mohamed Labib)

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
Far lateral/Transcondylar Approach. (Samy El Hammady)

3:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Break

3:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Cadaver Dissection (All Faculty)

7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Social Event



Saturday, August 10, Endoscopic Day

7:00 - 7:30 a.m.
Breakfast

7:30 - 8:00 a.m.
Relative Sinus, Sellar, Suprasellar & Skull Base Anatomy (Alhusain Nagm)

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to The Sellar Region (Anand Germanwala)

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Craniopharyngioma (Wael Mostafa)

9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Anterior Cranial Fossa (Nathan Zwagerman)

10:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 - 12:00 p.m.
Cadaver Dissection (All Faculty)

Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch with Vendors

1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Endoscopic Pterygopalatine Approach (James Evans) * Virtual

1:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Endoscopic Skull Base Reconstruction Techniques (Hayan Dayoub)

2:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Complication Avoidance in Skull Base Surgery (Samy ElHammady)

2:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Break

2:45 - 5:30 p.m.
Cadaver Dissection (All Faculty)

5:30 p.m.
Adjournment



2024 Faculty


    Guest Faculty
    Steven Carr, MD
    Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
    University of Missouri

    Michael Chicoine, MD
    Chair of Department of Neurosurgery
    University of Missouri in Columbia

    Hayan Dayoub, MD
    Neurosurgeon, Springfield Clinic

    Mohamed Samy El Hammady, MD
    Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

    James Evans, MD
    Professor of Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology
    Thomas Jefferson University
    Former President of the North American Skull Base Society

    Mohamed Labib, MD
    Neurosurgeon, University of Maryland Medical System
    Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery

    Anand Germanwala, MD
    Professor of Neurosurgery and Residency Program Director
    Loyola University Medical Center




    Alhusain Nagm, MD, MSc, PhD
    Neurosurgeon, University of Maryland Medical Center

    Troy Payner, MD
    Director of Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Fellowship
    Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University

    Kushal Shah, MD
    Neurosurgeon, Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine
    Clinical Assistant Professor, Marian University

    Ramachandra Tummala, MD
    Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
    University of Minnesota

    A. Samy Youssef, MD, PhD
    Vice Chair of Education, Professor of Neurosurgery and Clinical Otolaryngology, Director of Complex Cranial and Skull Base Surgery, Program Director of Skull Base Surgery Fellowship
    University of Colorado School of Medicine

    Nathan Zwagerman, MD
    Assistant Professor and Director of Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery
    Medical College of Wisconsin


    Internal Faculty
    Wael H. Mostafa, MD, PhD – Course Director
    Program Lead for Brain Tumor and Skull Base Surgery, Carle Health
    Clinical Assistant Professor, Carle Illinois College of Medicine



What Past Attendees Say

Exceptional learning experience

"The course is excellent. It was well-structured, with a perfect balance between lectures and hands-on labs. The organization was superb, even before we arrived. The faculty was highly supportive, and the overall learning experience was exceptional. I will recommend this course to my colleagues and would definitely be interested in joining again."

Amna Hussein
University of Arizona, Phoenix

Contagious energy

"The course was comprehensive and one of the best courses I have attended. It was such a wonderful experience because the faculty had a passion for skull-based surgery. They brought their passion into the lecture and lab, and it created a contagious energy. Everyone was so willing to help. I would recommend this course to every resident and attending neurosurgeon. "

Justin Michael
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Clear enthusiasm and engagement

"The lectures and the clear enthusiasm and engagement of the faculty were highlights. I also appreciated that nearly all of the lectures were given in person. A lot of learning was packed into just two days without it feeling like too much, very well organized."

Nicole Wenger
University of Maryland Medical Center

Absolutely phenomenal

"This course was absolutely phenomenal. I learned a tremendous amount from both the lectures and the dissection. It was an honor to meet so many faculty who are passionate about teaching. I came back to my institution highly recommending the course to my colleagues."

Tara Dalton
Duke University


2024 Exhibitors

Platinum
ABS Medical
Integra LifeSciences
Zeiss Meditec
Stryker
Karl Storz Endoscopy-America
Medtronic

Gold
Synaptive Medical
GT Medical Technologies

Silver
Depuy Synthes
Specialty Care
SurgicalOne
Mitaka USA


The course is also made possible by generous donations to the Carle Neuroscience Institute Fund through Carle Health Center for Philanthropy.