KEY INITIATIVES

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Family Medicine

STFM provides family medicine educators with resources to help them teach POCUS at their institutions. Resources include "Teach POCUS" online training modules, a certificate program, and virtual workshops.

TEACH POCUS ONLINE MODULES POCUS SUMMIT and TASK FORCE: GOALS AND RESULTS

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help physicians make decisions at the bedside, decrease time to diagnosis, and better triage patients who need subspecialty care. The ACGME Family Medicine Program Requirements state that "residents should have experience in using point-of-care ultrasound in clinical care."STFM provides family medicine educators with resources to help them teach POCUS their institutions. This "Teaching POCUS" guide includes online modules for STFM members and opportunities to register for virtual POCUS workshops.

POCUS Resources and Programs From STFM

"Teach POCUS" Online Modules

Access 10 interactive modules designed to help educators and learners build foundational POCUS knowledge and integrate it into clinical teaching.

FM POCUS Educator's Certificate Program

Participate in a year-long structured faculty development program to build skills in teaching, implementing, and leading POCUS education.

POCUS Virtual Workshop

Join the "POCUS Launchpad: Navigating Logistics of Implementing Ultrasound in Residency Training" to develop skills to set-up a POCUS teaching program at your institution.

Special Issue of STFM Journal on Teaching POCUS in Family Medicine Education

The October 2026 issue of Family Medicine, a scholarly journal of STFM, is dedicated to POCUS, with recommendations and guidance to help residency programs and medical departments consider what the POCUS evolution means for learners, faculty, and clinical practice.

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Events

October 16, 2026: POCUS Virtual Workshop for Family Medicine Educators

October 30, 2026, 2 pm eastern: Webinar: "Mind Matters: Integrating Cognitive Health Care and Prevention in Family Medicine"

November 4, 2026, 1 pm eastern: Webinar: "At the Deep End: How Family Physicians Can Build Connection, Community, and Change"

November 12, 2026, 12:30 pm eastern: Webinar: "Building Your Legacy: 8 Smart Estate Planning Strategies to Protect Family and Preserve Wealth"

December 2, 2026, 1 pm eastern: Webinar: "The Adaptive Coach: The Core Principles Behind Effective Coaching"

January 13, 2027, 1 pm eastern: Webinar: "The Present Coach: Listening and Silence for Learning"

February 3, 2027, 1 pm eastern: Webinar: "The Curious Coach: Powerful Questions and Reframing for Insight"

March 10, 2027, 1 pm eastern: Webinar: "The Disciplined Coach: Taming the Advice Monster and Guiding Growth"

April 7, 2027, 1 pm eastern: Webinar: "The Collaborative Coach: Co-Creating Goals and Growth Plans"

February 5–7, 2027: STFM Conference on Medical Student Education

May 1–5, 2027: STFM Annual Spring Conference

Deadlines

October 13, 2026: Apply for CBME Certificate of Distinction: Adaptive Coaching in GME

October 19, 2026: Apply to Serve on STFM Foundation Board of Trustees

October 27, 2026: Apply for STFM Faculty for Tomorrow Resident Scholarship

November 2, 2026: Apply for Funding From STFM Project Fund

November 8, 2026: Nominations for Curtis G. Hames Research Award

November 8, 2026: Nominations for STFM Research Paper of the Year Award

November 8, 2026: Apply for AI Centers of Excellence Recognition Program

November 14, 2026: Apply for STFM Emerging Leaders Fellowship

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Tips for Using STFM's AI Assistant

STFM's AI Assistant is designed to help you find information and answers about Family Medicine education. While it's a powerful tool, getting the best results depends on how you phrase your questions. Here's how to make the most of your interactions:

1. Avoid Ambiguous Language

Be Clear and Specific: Use precise terms and avoid vague words like "it" or "that" without clear references.

Example:

Instead of: "Can you help me with that?"
Try: "Can you help me update our Family Medicine clerkship curriculum?"
Why this is important: Ambiguous language can confuse the AI, leading to irrelevant or unclear responses. Clear references help the chatbot understand exactly what you're asking.

2. Use Specific Terms

Identify the Subject Clearly: Clearly state the subject or area you need information about.

Example:

Instead of: "What resources does STFM provide?"
Try: "I'm a new program coordinator for a Family Medicine clerkship. What STFM resources are available to help me design or update clerkship curricula?"
Why this is better: Providing details about your role ("program coordinator") and your goal ("design or update clerkship curricula") gives the chatbot enough context to offer more targeted information.

3. Don't Assume the AI Knows Everything

Provide Necessary Details:The STFM AI Assistant has been trained on STFM's business and resources. The AI can only use the information you provide or that it has been trained on.

Example:

Instead of: "How can I improve my program?"
Try: "As a program coordinator for a Family Medicine clerkship, what resources does STFM provide to help me improve student engagement and learning outcomes?"
Why this is important: Including relevant details helps the AI understand your specific situation, leading to more accurate and useful responses.

4. Reset if You Change Topics

Clear Chat History When Switching Topics:

If you move to a completely new topic and the chatbot doesn't recognize the change, click the Clear Chat History button and restate your question.
Note: Clearing your chat history removes all previous context from the chatbot's memory.
Why this is important: Resetting ensures the AI does not carry over irrelevant information, which could lead to confusion or inaccurate answers.

5. Provide Enough Context

Include Background Information: The more context you provide, the better the chatbot can understand and respond to your question.

Example:

Instead of: "What are the best practices?"
Try: "In the context of Family Medicine education, what are the best practices for integrating clinical simulations into the curriculum?"
Why this is important: Specific goals, constraints, or preferences allow the AI to tailor its responses to your unique needs.

6. Ask One Question at a Time

Break Down Complex Queries: If you have multiple questions, ask them separately.

Example:

Instead of: "What are the requirements for faculty development, how do I register for conferences, and what grants are available?"
Try: Start with "What are the faculty development requirements for Family Medicine educators?" Then follow up with your other questions after receiving the response.
Why this is important: This approach ensures each question gets full attention and a complete answer.

Examples of Good vs. Bad Prompts

Bad Prompt

"What type of membership is best for me?"

Why it's bad: The AI Chat Assistant has no information about your background or needs.

Good Prompt

"I'm the chair of the Department of Family Medicine at a major university, and I plan to retire next year. I'd like to stay involved with Family Medicine education. What type of membership is best for me?"

Why it's good: The AI Chat Assistant knows your role, your future plans, and your interest in staying involved, enabling it to provide more relevant advice.

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STFM AI Assistant
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