Neurosurgery- Skull Base Surgery Fellowship

Overview

The Cleveland Clinic Florida Brain Tumor Center and Minimally Invasive Cranial and Pituitary Surgery Program offer one clinical fellowship in skull base surgery each year from July to June.

The primary goal of this fellowship is to train future academic leaders and clinical scientists in the subspecialties of open and endoscopic skull base surgery by providing advanced training in the overall management of patients with complex skull base and brain pathology. During the fellowship year, the clinical fellow also actively participates in ongoing clinical and lab research projects in collaboration with 2 research fellows. The department has a cranial base surgery state of the art Lab equipped with Microscope and Endoscope available 24/7 at Weston Campus.

Badih Adada, MD
Program Director

Hamid Borghei-Razavi, MD
Associate Program Director

Diversity & Inclusion

Discover the role diversity and inclusion plays at Cleveland Clinic and at its Graduate Medical Education program, as well as our diversity and inclusion efforts.

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Application

Interested applicants must have successfully passed USMLE Steps 1, 2CK, and 2CS. Applicants requesting an H-1B visa must also have successfully passed USMLE Step 3. International medical graduates must have received a currently valid ECFMG certificate in order to apply to our program.

The program accepts one fellow per year. We participate in the NASBS Neurosurgery Skull Base Fellowship Match. All applicants must apply through the NASBS website.

Program contact

Lauren Eadeh
Senior GME Coordinator
eadehl@ccf.org
Phone: 954.649.7453

Badih Adada, MD
adadab@ccf.org

Hamid Borghei-Razavi, MD
borgheh2@ccf.org

Susan Worthington
Administrative Program Coordinator
worthis@ccf.org

Benefits

Please refer to the table below for new salary rates, effective July 1, 2023:

Grad Level	Current Pay Rate
1	$61,609
2	$63,685
3	$65,743
4	$68,315
5	$70,591
6	$73,368
7	$75,798
8	$77,276

Paid Time Away: Vacation, Maternity, & Paternity

Vacation – 3 weeks (15 working days) provided at the beginning of each academic year
Maternity – 6 weeks paid leave for natural childbirth or adoption; 8 weeks for cesarean section. Additional time off unpaid up to a maximum of 12 weeks under the Family Medical Leave Act.
Paternity – 2 weeks paid leave. Additional time off unpaid up to a maximum of 12 weeks under the Family Medical Leave Act.

Insurance

Healthcare – Cleveland Clinic Florida covers 50% of annual Healthcare Plans for Clinical Trainees and their families. Effective on the first day of training with no waiting period.
Dental and Vision Care – Cleveland Clinic Florida covers 100% of annual Dental and Vision Care Plans for Clinical Trainees.
Maternity Care – 100% coverage is provided through the health care plan that you select within the plan's guidelines.
Pharmaceuticals – As outlined by the Cleveland Clinic Florida Health Plan.
Malpractice – Paid by the Cleveland Clinic Educational Foundation/Cleveland Clinic Florida. Limited to activities within the training program.
Life Insurance – $25,000 term group policy.

Travel Privileges and Other Education Activities

Senior residents, chief residents and fellows in ACGME and NON-ACGME programs that meet eligibility criteria as outlined in the Graduate Physicians Manual may be approved to attend academic meetings for the purpose of presenting or engaging in leadership roles within national societies will be eligible up to 5 days per academic year with a maximum reimbursement of $1,200 per academic year.

Additional Benefits

Book Allowance – A $250 educational allowance per year is available to all clinical residents/fellows. Primary use is for textbooks.
On-call Meals – Breakfast, lunch and dinner: Paid by Cleveland Clinic Florida when on in-house night call.
Membership – ACP membership paid for by the program.
Cell phones – Apple iPhone provided to all residents.
Uniforms – Supplied by Cleveland Clinic Florida.

Cranial Base Neuroanatomy Fellowship

The Cleveland Clinic Florida Brain Tumor Center and Minimally Invasive Cranial and Pituitary Surgery Program offer one research fellowships in cranial base neuroanatomy each year. The cranial base neuroanatomy research fellowship is designed for graduated neurosurgeons who want to deepen their knowledge and expertise in complex endoscopic and microscopic skull base approaches. It will last for one year. The training has dual educational and research goals aiming to improve surgical techniques and outcomes by mastering knowledge of relevant surgical skull base neuroanatomy.

Fellows will conduct training and research in the surgical neuroanatomy lab. The philosophy of this lab is to conduct meticulous and exquisite anatomical microdissections to better understand the intricacies of the complex anatomy of the human brain and skull base. We believe this type of dissection can be used as a guide to improve surgical skills and as a trigger for research ideas and innovations. There is a regular 3D presentation meeting every Friday morning between staff, clinical fellows, research fellows, and medical students rotating in the neurosurgery department to show the microscopic and endoscopic dissections and discuss their clinical relevance.

To apply, please email:

Hamid Borghei-Razavi, MD
(BORGHEH2@CCF.ORG)

Badih Adada, MD
(ADADAB@CCF.ORG)

Cleveland Clinic Florida Cranial Base Neuroanatomy Lab

Overview
The Cleveland Clinic Florida Cranial Base Neuroanatomy Lab is a hub for national and international neurosurgeons who are interested in state-of-the-art skull base training and research. Our lab has research, educational, and innovational roles aimed at improving surgical techniques and outcomes through a mastery of knowledge of relevant surgical neuroanatomy.

The lab has an inspirational role as well for medical students to choose neurosurgery and brain surgery for their future training. Our philosophy is to conduct meticulous and exquisite anatomical microdissections to better understand the intricacies of the complex anatomy of the human brain and skull base. We believe this type of dissection can be used as a guide to improve surgical skills and as a trigger for research ideas and innovations. The lab’s missions are research, endoscopic and microscopic skills training, and innovation.

Research and Skills Training
The four main research areas of the lab are microsurgical neuroanatomy, endoscopic skull base anatomy, innovation and device development to improve surgical methods and outcomes, infrastructure development for future advanced labs, and collaboration with other basic neuroscience institutes, including biomechanical engineering.

The lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of national and international research fellows. Research and clinical fellows have unlimited access to the lab to study anatomy, practice surgical procedures, and plan operations.

Innovations
Innovations of the researcher will be supported through the lab and staff. We will try to connect the ideas of the research fellows with other disciplines such as the biomechanical engineering department and a suitable company for further design and development of new technologies and instruments that can improve surgical methods and outcomes.

Weekly 3D Presentations
There is a 3D presentation meeting every Friday morning in the lab between staff, clinical fellows, research fellows, and medical students rotating in the neurosurgery department to show the microscopic and endoscopic dissections and discuss their clinical relevance.

Annual Advanced Cleveland Clinic Skull Base Surgery Workshop
There is an annual three-day skull base surgery workshop between Cleveland Clinic main campus in Ohio and Cleveland Clinic in Florida. It is located in the Braathen Neurological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic Florida campus in Weston. This course offers unique advanced training in microscopic and endoscopic approaches.