In this episode of the AAST Cutting Edge Podcast, hosts Dr. Caroline Park and Dr. Susan Kartiko are joined by members of the AAST DEI Committee to tackle a timely and increasingly relevant topic in surgical education: intergenerational communication in trauma and acute care surgery. As today’s surgical teams span Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z—and soon Gen Alpha—the conversation explores how differences in communication style, feedback expectations, technology use, and learning preferences impact the operating room, trauma bay, research mentorship, and professional development.

The panel discusses practical strategies for high-acuity environments, including expectation-setting during trauma laparotomy, delivering actionable and psychologically safe feedback, structured debriefing, boundary-setting in digital communication, and adapting teaching methods to modern adult learning science. Rather than framing generational differences as barriers, this episode highlights how intentional leadership, emotional intelligence, and inclusive teaching practices can strengthen surgical training, improve team dynamics, and enhance patient care outcomes.

Whether you are a trauma surgeon, surgical educator, residency leader, or trainee, this episode offers actionable insights into mentorship, professionalism, and building high-performing, multigenerational surgical teams.