Mission

The goals of the Australian and New Zealand Skull Base Society are to promote dissemination of information about diseases involving the skull base, including the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical management, in order to facilitate coordinated excellence in the delivery of care to patients, and to promote advancement of the scientific basis for treatment of patients with skull base disorders.

Raising Awareness

Our membership comprises doctors with a sub-specialty interest in the diseases of the skull base, particularly neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, head and neck surgeons, and plastic surgeons, as well as ophthalmologists, radiologists, pathologists, rehabilitation specialists, medical and radiation oncologists, and others with interest in diseases involving the cranial base. Doctors within the Oceania and South East Asian region are particularly targeted, but the Society is also open to participation from qualified international members from around the world.

The ANZSBS events, blogs and activities focus on the development, validation and dissemination of basic scientific information and clinical application of evidence-based approaches useful to specialists in the care of diseases of the skull base, and to provide broader distribution of this information among the various scientific disciplines caring for patients with skull base diseases. We encourage the application of these advances and encourage efforts to stimulate further interest in skull base diseases.

The ANZSBS objectives are:

  1. To promote all aspects of the medical and surgical management of Skull Base disorders and pathologies.
  2. To hold meetings at which those persons interested in the management of Skull Base disorders and pathologies can meet, discuss clinical practice and present research papers.
  3. To take an overall interest in the advancement of our understanding of skull base disorders and pathologies in Australia and New Zealand with special reference to research and the needs of those in training.
  4. To liaise with other national and international Skull Base Societies, such as the North American Skull Base Society, the European Skull Base Society and other medical organisations relevant to the practice of skull base surgery especially throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific region.

The primary event for the ANZSBS is its Annual Meeting. This meeting is held annually, either in the late winter or early spring, at locations chosen by the executive leadership for access, facilities, and the ability to support the educational program.

This meeting is to ensure the timely and accurate dissemination of scientific advancements in the field and to foster a greater collegiality amongst doctors who provide care for patients with skull base disorders in our community:

  1. Effectively disseminate evidence-based scientific advances and relate them to new and evolving standards of care.
  2. Create opportunities for members and others to share aggregate outcomes data as one of the measures for effective educational interventions and also as a source of identification of professional practice gaps for future planning.
  3. Highlight emerging outcomes data in skull base pathology and science.

The society is willing and flexible to adapt and address unmet needs as they occur in our field and are always open to feedback from both patients and doctors.

Advocacy for Clinicians

ANZSBS recognises the need to promote the public welfare through the advancement of skull base surgery and related sciences. The key goals are:

  • To disseminate information about the anatomy, physiology and clinical management of diseases involving the skull base.
  • To promote education and basic and clinical research relating to diseases of the skull base.
  • To promote mutual fellowship and cooperation among various scientific disciplines and organizations.

Advocacy for Patients

Central to the society’s mission is ensuring that patients with diseases involving the skull base, receive the highest level of care in Australia and New Zealand. This includes ensuring that those doctors involved in the management of skull base disorders have the background training and education in the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical management of these conditions, in order to facilitate coordinated excellence in the delivery of care to patients. The society always remains open to feedback and input from patients, their family and carers.

Banner photo by Piron Guillaume on Unsplash