CERA Best Paper Award

The CERA Best Paper Award recognizes a research paper using CERA survey data that was published in a peer-reviewed journal the previous academic year.

The CERA Best Paper Award recognizes a research paper using CERA survey data that was published in a peer-reviewed journal the previous academic year. The CERA Steering Committee members review all papers that meet the criteria and vote on the award based on the following: novelty of topic, quality of methods, interest to the audience, and potential to change practice.Note: Members of the CERA Steering Committee who have a conflict with an eligible paper (ie, an author, a mentor of an author, a member of the department of an author, or other self-identified conflict) will not participate in the scoring of that paper.The winning paper is presented at a poster session at the STFM Annual Spring Conference. The lead author receives the award on behalf of the research team at the awards program.

Past Winners of CERA Best Paper Award

2021–2025 Winners

  • 2025: "Features of Effective Clinical Competency Committees" by Kathleen Rowland, MD, MS; Deborah Edberg, MD; Lauren Anderson, PhD, Med; Katherine Wright , PhD, MPH
  • 2024: "Evaluating the Uptake of Antiracism Training, Policies, and Practices in Departments of Family Medicine" by Mechelle Sanders, PhD et al
  • 2023: “Physician Attitudes and Self-reported Practices Toward Prostate Cancer Screening in Black and White Men” by Nicholas Shungu MD, MPH et al
  • 2022: “Assessing Family Medicine Residency Programs’ Training on Human Trafficking: A National Survey of Program Directors" by Ranit Mishori, MD,MSPH; Katherine Stolarz, DO; Anita Ravi, MD, MPH; Valeriy R. Korostyshevskiy, PhD, MSc; Ronald Chambers, MD; Peter Cronholm MD, MS
  • 2021: "Awareness of Meaning in Life is Protective Against Burnout Among Family Physicians: A CERA Study" by Stephanie A. Hooker, PhD, MPH; Robert E. Post, MD, MS; Michelle D. Sherman, PhD, ABPP

2019–2020 Winners

  • 2020: "Perceptions of Parenting Residents Among Family Medicine Residency Directors" by Laura E. Morris, MD, MSPH; Erik Lindbloom, MD, MSPH; Robin L. Kruse, PhD, MSPH; Karla T. Washington, PhD, LCSW; Nikole J. Cronk, PhD; Heather L. Paladine, MD, MEd
  • 2019: "Institutional NIH Research Funding and a Culture of Support for Family Medicine—Their Relationship to Family Medicine Specialty Choice" by Arch G. Mainous III, PhD; Maribeth Porter, MD, MS; Denny Fe Agana, MPH; Alexander W. Chessman, MD

Questions?

For general questions about this award, contact Sam Grammer at the link below.

EMAIL QUESTIONS

Contact Us

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

January 21, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: GME Leadership Webinar Series: "Staying In: What Sustains GME Leaders Through the Long Haul"

January 29–February 1, 2026: STFM Conference on Medical Student Education

February 4, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Rethinking Bias in AI – Why Algorithmic Bias is Only the Tip of the Iceberg"

February 9, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Debt Management for Doctors" in Partnership With Equitable Advisors

March 11, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: GME Leadership Webinar Series: "The Human Side of Leadership: Managing People and Ourselves"

March 31, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Integrity, Identity, and Inclusion: Reframing Professionalism for a New Era"

May 2–6, 2026: STFM Annual Spring Conference

May 13, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: GME Leadership Webinar Series: "Defining Success on Your Own Terms"

June 10, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Staying at the Table: Leading for Health Equity While Protecting Your Peace"

August 31–September 2, 2026: STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement

Due Dates

January 9, 2026: Apply to Be Scholarship Leader for New Faculty Scholars Program

January 15, 2026: Family Medicine Call for Papers: Theme Issue on Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Family Medicine Education

January 15, 2026: Apply for POCUS Educator's Certificate Program

January 27, 2026: Call for Proposals to Present at 2026 STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement

February 16, 2026: Apply for Medical Editing Fellowship

February 16, 2026: Apply to Be Faculty for POCUS Educator's Certificate Program

February 19, 2026: Apply for CERA Fellowship

February 23, 2026: Representative to Annals of Family Medicine Board of Directors

February 24, 2026: Apply to Be Faculty for MSEDI Fellowship

February 28, 2026: Apply for STFM Advocacy Scholarship for New Faculty

March 1, 2026: Family Medicine Call for Papers: Theme Issue on Scope of Practice in Family Medicine

March 19, 2026: Representative to Council of Faculty and Academic Societies (CFAS)

Useful Links

Ask a Question
AI Chatbot Tips

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.

Double Check Important Information

While the AI Chat Assistant is a helpful tool, it can still produce inaccurate or incomplete responses. Always verify critical information with reliable sources or colleagues before taking action.

Technical Limitations

The Chat Assistant:

  • Cannot access external websites or open links
  • Cannot process or view images
  • Cannot make changes to STFM systems or process transactions
  • Cannot access real-time information (like your STFM Member Profile information)

STFM AI Assistant
Disclaimer: The STFM Assistant can make mistakes. Check important information.