General Surgery is not Impossible for IMGs

[Top knife]

The match fever has caught up. I have been out of the threads for 3 years and see many changes in the match process. I am probably one if the oldest visiting this thread. I was a frequent visitor to the usmle forum some years ago.
I write to everyone who is struggling with their dreams to persue gen surg in USA. Have confidence and faith. It might take a while but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I was a trained surgeon from my home country, with a fellowship, and came to USA in search of the opportunities I could not have imagined existed anywhere else but here. My story is long but I will keep it short. Old grad, completed training in 2004, step 1 230' step 2 229' cs pass, step 3 80. Came here with these scores in 2009. No gap in training as I worked ith WHO for 4 years in south east Asia. Applied to gen surg residency in 2009' did not get a single interview, maybe of all the reasons u can think, like not competitive scores, old grad etc etc. I realized that I would not match that year, and so applied for transplant fellowship the same year, got 14 interviews as I had worked in transplant centers, matched at a reputed program. But at the end of 2 years ( which were fun), I realized that I had to be board certified to work in a transplant center. 2011 my mentor got me a preliminary position at a university hospital, as no one could give me a categorical spot, too old a graduate to retrain etc etc. anyways I worked hard to get the top absite scores and excellent evaluations, and the program hired me as a pgy3 categorical.
Lessons I learnt the hard way
1. Believe in your dreams.
2. People cannot decide what is ure fate, u make ure own path.
3. Work hard and there are no short cuts.
4. Scores matter but at the end of the day any program in gen surgery is looking for a dedicated, hard working guy who can take care of their patients sincerely.
5. Grab any opportunity u get, prelim or whatever, u never know u may be offered a categorical spot.
6. There is no other way to be successful in general surgery but to do a residency. Fellowship alone might get u a job but u will always be treated as a third rated surgeon.
Good luck to everyone.

[skyhigh]

so inspiring experience. thank you

[ACA]

Inspiring story. May we know which program?


Best - Victor

[Dutchsurgeon]

Originally Posted by Top knife

The match fever has caught up. I have been out of the threads for 3 years and see many changes in the match process. I am probably one if the oldest visiting this thread. I was a frequent visitor to the usmle forum some years ago.
I write to everyone who is struggling with their dreams to persue gen surg in USA. Have confidence and faith. It might take a while but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I was a trained surgeon from my home country, with a fellowship, and came to USA in search of the opportunities I could not have imagined existed anywhere else but here. My story is long but I will keep it short. Old grad, completed training in 2004, step 1 230' step 2 229' cs pass, step 3 80. Came here with these scores in 2009. No gap in training as I worked ith WHO for 4 years in south east Asia. Applied to gen surg residency in 2009' did not get a single interview, maybe of all the reasons u can think, like not competitive scores, old grad etc etc. I realized that I would not match that year, and so applied for transplant fellowship the same year, got 14 interviews as I had worked in transplant centers, matched at a reputed program. But at the end of 2 years ( which were fun), I realized that I had to be board certified to work in a transplant center. 2011 my mentor got me a preliminary position at a university hospital, as no one could give me a categorical spot, too old a graduate to retrain etc etc. anyways I worked hard to get the top absite scores and excellent evaluations, and the program hired me as a pgy3 categorical.
Lessons I learnt the hard way
1. Believe in your dreams.
2. People cannot decide what is ure fate, u make ure own path.
3. Work hard and there are no short cuts.
4. Scores matter but at the end of the day any program in gen surgery is looking for a dedicated, hard working guy who can take care of their patients sincerely.
5. Grab any opportunity u get, prelim or whatever, u never know u may be offered a categorical spot.
6. There is no other way to be successful in general surgery but to do a residency. Fellowship alone might get u a job but u will always be treated as a third rated surgeon.
Good luck to everyone.

Do I understand you have to go through the whole residency programme as an experienced surgeon?