Hi everyone,
I am an IMG and apart from steps I have already been a PhD candidate in neurosurgery in my country since last September.I have two accepted and two submitted publications about basic research in neurosurgical disease and one speech in the annual meeting of european section of cervical spine research society.
I am going to do my application preliminary general syrgery 1 yaer program?
Do you think that it is a good idea?
Does it make my application stronger in neurosurgery for next year?

I personally don’t think Preliminary General Surgery should be your first option. It would help you get some clinical experience in the system here but your exposure to the neurosurgical part would be incredibly poor. I would try to get a Pre-residency fellowship or spot somewhere, preferentially in a place you would like to train. This way they would get to know you better, you would have your feet on the door and at the same time gain some clinical experience here. I know at least 5 IMGs currently in residency who did away rotations here and matched without the need for a Prelim or a Pre-residency spot, so you will hear different opinions from different people. Good luck in your search.

2010 residency match season is almost over already. I agree with Bossa Nova (above) that you will hear different opinions. My take is to start contacting program directors and attendings of the programs you are interested in, and gauge out how much they might be interested in you. If you can schedule a format visit to the place and may be do some brief rotation before 2011 match season start, it might be very helpful. I know a couple of IMGs who did pre-residency fellowships and/or surg-prelims before their neurosurgery residency, but that doesn’t mean you also have to take the same path. I couldn’t get quite what you mean by ‘PhD candidate in neurosurgery’.. if you are a neurosurgery resident / neurosurgeon in your home country, try doing some fellowships and then if the hospital likes you, you can get hired etc without going through the residency process. I know some successful practicing (not basic science/administrative work) neurosurgeons who didn’t have residency training in this country. Good luck with your hunt!!