Awards

Lynn & Joan Carmichael STFM Recognition Award

The Lynn and Joan Carmichael STFM Recognition Award honors an STFM member or nonmember for outstanding leadership in advancing family medicine as a discipline. The nominee's achievements and activities should be clearly recognized as enhancing or supporting family medicine education by improving resources available for its support, by defense or support of its objectives, or by other notable service to the discipline. Such achievements should have had significance at a national level.

The selection is made by the STFM Nominations Committee and approved by the STFM Board of Directors. Nominations are ranked based on achievements and activities that have:

  • Supported STFM aims and principles 
  • Advanced family medicine as a discipline
  • Had national impact on family medicine education

Members of the Nominations Committee are not eligible to receive the award while serving on the Committee.

To nominate an individual for the Lynn & Joan Carmichael STFM Recognition Award, complete nomination form and compile nomination requirements above and send electronically to Kim Sevedge by September 18.

  • A nominator is an STFM member
  • the nominee can be a STFM member or non-member
  • Prepare the following:
    • A statement from the nominator citing the nominee's accomplishments and activities that warrant consideration for the STFM award
    • Up to three additional letters of support from both the nominee's home institution (or agency) and from a regional or nationally placed reference, addressing the nominee's national or regional contribution to family medicine
    • Curriculum vitae of the nominee
All nominees will be notified in late December.

Recipients for this award will be honored during STFM's Annual Spring Conference. The award winner will receive travel support up to $2000, a commemorative award, and a complimentary registration to the STFM Annual Spring Conference. 

View past winners of the Lynn and Joan Carmichael STFM Recognition Award on our past award winners page

Questions?

If you have questions about this award, email Kim Sevedge or call 913.800.5665.

Contact Us

 

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

April 7–May 5, 2025: STFM Foundation Online Auction Bidding

May 3–7, 2025: STFM Annual Spring Conference

May 5, 2025, 7:30–11 pm: STFM Foundation MediPalooza Fundraiser

May 30, 2025, 12 pm CDT/1 pm EDT: Webinar: Ethical Use of AI in the Family Medicine Clinic

September 8–10, 2025: The 2025 STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement

Due Dates

April 22, 2025: Deadline to Submit Questions for a CERA Family Medicine Department Chair Survey

May 5, 2025: Deadline for Online Bids in STFM Foundation MediPalooza Auction

May 16, 2025: STFM Foundation Student Scholar Nominations Due

May 23, 2025: Applications to Serve on the STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement Steering Committee Due

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.