“Meet and Eat”—bridging generations over lunch

40 participants signed up for the first ever edition of “Meet and Eat” during this year’s AO Davos Courses. Titled “Human Factors in the OR,” the lunchtime session aimed to bring together aspiring young surgeons and key opinion leaders in an informal environment, encouraging the different generations to interact and share their experiences and questions. Moderated by members of the AO Davos Courses Young Surgeon Advisory Group, participants, young faculty, and global key opinion leaders explored what it takes to shape a healthy environment both in the OR and beyond.

“Meet and Eat offers an opportunity to meet senior AO surgeons in a relaxed setting,” explained Selma Fensel-Merz, one of the moderators. “While participants do engage with faculty during the courses, conversations are often limited to technical skills, and there is very little time for an exchange beyond the practical exercises. Our aim was lower the threshold for conversations that go beyond the course curriculum.”

“What makes participating in the AO Davos Courses special for young surgeons are the people they are able to meet here, and they want to get to know the key opinion leaders,” said co-moderator Joseph Galloway. “By focusing on human factors in the OR and intentionally avoiding the more technical skills, we wanted to open a relationship-based conversation between the attendants. Topics like reduce risk, mitigate harm, and mentally recover from an error in the OR, how to deal with conflict, or even how to interact with your spouse when you get home after a long day in the OR.”

After a brief introduction by the moderators, both junior and senior attendants were soon deeply engaged in lively conversations, exchanging their questions and personal experiences. “I was worried that we would have to step in more to keep conversations going, but there was no need to moderate,” said Galloway. “And everyone—both the young and the senior surgeons—expressed at the end of the session that they had learned something from each other.”

A second “Meet and Eat” will be held at the 2024 AO Davos Courses on Monday, December 9. Participants can register here.