Residents within the University of Cincinnati Department of Neurosurgery will now have the opportunity to participate in a CAST-Certified Spine Fellowship. This designation allows enfolded and external fellows access to an accredited level of training that not all programs can offer. “It distinguishes our program from many others because it allows our trainees to get distinction upon graduation which will give them better opportunities and careers as they go forward,” says Dr. Rani Nasser, one of the UC Neurosurgeons who was key in securing the accreditation.

CAST, or the Committee on Advanced Subspeciality Training functions under and is responsible to the Council of The Society of Neurological Surgeons. The committee evaluates each program to determine if it meets the specific criteria. Dr. Nasser (pictured) explains what UC had to prove to achieve the accreditation, “we have to provide evidence of a high volume of cases.” He continues, “not just a high volume, but a complexity of care which is fellowship level.” Dr. Nasser reiterates that the cases that are referred to UC Health are cases that community hospitals would not perform.

Dr. Nasser specifically highlighted cases that involved complex scoliosis, intraspinal tumors, and spinal vascular malformations, to name a few, of the complex cases that residents would experience.

“This is a very high distinction,” says Dr. Nasser, but he is quick to credit others. “In order to do operations like this, you need to have the resources outside of the OR.” He explains that UC is the only hospital in the city to have a Neuro ICU, “which is necessary to help resuscitate these complicated cases and take care of them post-operatively.” Dr. Nasser says it takes an entire health system to be able to achieve this high level of distinction, “it’s not just performing the operation, it’s also getting them through the operation during their post-operative recovery as well.”

Dr. Zachary Plummer, who will be a PGY-7 chief resident next academic year, will be the first to participate in this esteemed program. Dr. Plummer will train under aforementioned Dr. Nasser, Neurosurgery Department Chair Dr. Joseph Cheng, and Justin Virojanapa, DO.