Advancing Skull Base Surgical Expertise Through International Training: Dr. Haiyan Li from the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Awarded a Swiss FIMF Fellowship for Advanced Training at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital
To further enhance clinical expertise, align with international advances in diagnostic and therapeutic practices, and expand opportunities for international academic development, Dr. Haiyan Li from the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital was successfully selected for a visiting fellowship sponsored by the Fisch International Microsurgery Foundation (FIMF) in Switzerland. As part of the program, Dr. Li completed a three-month structured clinical training program at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital (Luzerner Kantonsspital), Switzerland.
A photograph taken in front of the main building of Lucerne Cantonal Hospital
A photograph with a professor from Lucerne Cantonal Hospital
During the three-month fellowship, Dr. Li received comprehensive, multidisciplinary training through the well-established otology program at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital. She actively participated in daily ward rounds, outpatient consultations, complex case discussions, and surgical observations, gaining firsthand experience in standardized otological diagnostic and treatment protocols. She also received systematic hands-on training in temporal bone dissection at the hospital’s Otology and Lateral Skull Base Microsurgical Anatomy Laboratory, further strengthening her anatomical knowledge and practical skills in skull base surgery. In addition, she regularly reviewed seminal international literature in the field and conducted detailed analyses of recorded surgical procedures to deepen her understanding of advanced surgical techniques.
The supervising professors demonstrated exceptional academic rigor and a meticulous approach to teaching, providing detailed instruction on surgical approach selection, precise anatomical identification, complication prevention, and clinical decision-making in complex cases. Through a combination of hands-on anatomical dissection, real-time intraoperative guidance and commentary, and in-depth discussions of scientific literature, they offered comprehensive explanations and individualized feedback. This structured and interactive training approach enabled Dr. Li to further consolidate her theoretical knowledge, refine her microsurgical skills, and develop a more systematic understanding of advanced otological and lateral skull base surgical practices.
Anatomy laboratory conducting training in the dissection of the temporal bone
During the final stage of her fellowship, Dr. Li successfully completed in the Fisch Advanced Temporal Bone Microsurgery and Skull Base Microsurgery Practical Courses. Through these intensive training programs, she further refined her microsurgical techniques and deepened her expertise in key areas, including surgical strategies for complex skull base lesions, lateral skull base surgical approaches, and otoneurosurgery. The courses combined hands-on surgical training, specialized lectures, and peer-to-peer case discussions, enabling her to strengthen her technical competencies, broaden her academic perspective, and gain firsthand insights into the teaching methodologies and technical standards adopted by leading international centers of excellence in skull base surgery.
Attending the Advanced Microsurgery of the Temporal Bone and Skull Base Microsurgery Practical Course (photograph with the instructors)
The FIMF fellowship in Switzerland represented not only a valuable opportunity for Dr. Haiyan Li to enhance her professional expertise, but also an important step toward aligning the department with international advances and strengthening its capacity for future academic development.
Upon returning to China, Dr. Li will integrate the clinical insights, hands-on anatomical dissection experience, and microsurgical techniques acquired during her fellowship into daily clinical practice, scientific research, and medical education. She will also actively promote the clinical application of advanced skull base surgical techniques learned through the training program.
Furthermore, building on the academic connections established during her fellowship, Dr. Li will maintain close communication and collaboration with experts at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and within the Fisch microsurgical training network. These relationships will provide a solid foundation for future international academic exchanges, professional training opportunities, and reciprocal visits between institutions, contributing to the sustained, high-quality development of skull base surgery and otoneurosurgery at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital.