NASBS names Dr. L. Madison Michael as president

Semmes Murphey neurosurgeon Dr. L. Madison Michael was named president of the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS).

In addition to providing top care for various neurological illnesses, Semmes Murphey’s team of physicians and providers also go above and beyond in their communities to inspire peers, mentor rising physicians and serve others. Skull base and open vascular neurosurgeon Dr. L. Madison Michael is one of those providers who applies his acquired skills and medical expertise to serve his community, including the neurosurgical community. He was recently named president of the North American Skull Base Society, a professional medical society dedicated to pursuing clinical and research excellence in skull base surgery. The announcement was made at the NASBS’ 34th annual meeting in New Orleans in February.

In this role, Dr. Michael will lead the organization’s efforts to promote education on skull base diseases and surgeries, advocate for research in the field and collaborate with other skull base societies. He will also oversee the society's activities and aim to improve patient care for skull base conditions.

We sat down with Dr. Michael to learn more about his accomplishment and why skull base surgery was a specialty he chose to pursue.

What does being president of the North American Skull Base Society mean to you?

It is the honor of a lifetime! To be given the opportunity to represent peers in my specialty who I look up to and people who I have the utmost respect for is truly the pinnacle of my career. I hope to make them proud.

What do you hope to achieve in this role?

All my work will go toward bringing together the outstanding abilities of our membership to explore the boundaries of skull base surgery.

In what ways were you involved in the NASBS prior to this appointment?

I have been attending and presenting at the annual meetings since I was a resident. I was given a couple of leadership opportunities, and things moved forward from there. I have been on the Board of Directors since 2020 and the Executive Council the last several years. This year, I was fortunate to be elected President by the membership.

In what ways have you dedicated your career to advancements in skull base neurosurgery?

My entire career has been devoted to learning the practice of skull base surgery. It is a never-ending journey! This specialty really is a team sport, though. I have been lucky to be a part of a bigger team here in Memphis at Semmes-Murphey, and all my accomplishments really have been our accomplishments. Our team consists of neurosurgeons, rhinologists, neuro-otologists, head and neck surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and neuro-interventional surgeons.

We conduct surgery at the highest of levels, have introduced new techniques and surgeries to the field, and contributed to teaching the next generation. Semmes-Murphey is one of the few Multidisciplinary Teams of Distinction within the North American Skull Base Society, and I am so proud to be part of this team.

What drove you toward pursuing this specialty of neurosurgery?

One of the founders of skull base surgery was Dr. Jon Robertson. He was my chairman during residency here in Memphis. The second I met him, I was all in! He is a larger-than-life character, and one of the greatest surgeons I have ever met. I then did my fellowship in England, where I met Mr. Rick Nelson. He is a giant in open vascular and skull base surgery on an international level. Although I was already committed to skull base surgery at that point, he has heavily influenced my career and how I perform surgery.