Chair: Linda M. Liau, MD, PhD
Members: Ian Dunn, MD, Isabelle Germano, MD, Fred Lang, MD, Michael Link, MD, Jennifer Moliterno-Gunel, MD, Jeffrey Olson, MD, Jeff Weinberg, MD, and Gabe Zada, MD

The new case log requirements for the CAST Neurosurgical Oncology (NO) and CAST Skull Base Fellowships are now in effect starting in 2024 and are available on-line at: https://sns-cast.org/.

The 2024 new CAST application cycle is now open through February 28, 2024. Any fellowship programs seeking new CAST accreditation will need to submit their applications online via the SNS CAST website by February 28. Access to the new CAST fellowship applications can be requested at: https://sns-cast.org/cast-fellowship-program-application-request-form, and the application will be made available to the fellowship program applicants via SM Apply.

The previous five-year renewal applications for CAST fellowship accreditation are no longer required. Instead, CAST has moved to Continuous Accreditation with the yearly Annual Report, and case log volumes (both institutional and individual fellow cases) will be reviewed on an annual basis to maintain CAST accreditation. The CAST submission site for Annual Reports will be open via SM Apply on June 1, 2024, and close on July 31, 2024. Fellow complement, site changes and/or program director changes can be made in the Annual Report. A separate renewal/new application will not be necessary for these types of changes.

The Skull Base Fellowship Programs have gone through a match process administered by the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS). Participation in the skull base fellowship match will be a requirement for future CAST accreditation. The application deadline for the next fellowship match cycle will be on June 14, 2024, for fellowship positions beginning on July 1, 2026. Applications can be found at:  www.nasbs.org/fellowship-match-programs.

For Neurosurgical Oncology fellowships, discussions are currently underway with the AANS/CNS Tumors Section and Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) leadership regarding moving to a match for the CAST-accredited Neurosurgical Oncology fellowships starting in 2025, for fellowship positions beginning on July 1, 2027.