STFM Advocate Award

This award honors STFM member(s) for outstanding work in political advocacy at the local, state, or national level.

The STFM Advocate Award honors STFM member(s) for outstanding work in political advocacy at the local, state, or national level. The recipient's efforts are not restricted to legislative work but cannot be solely individual patient advocacy.

Criteria for STFM Advocate Award

The selection is made by the Academy Family Medicine Advocacy Committee (AFMAC) and approved by the STFM Board of Directors. Members of AFMAC are not eligible to receive the award while serving on AFMAC.Note: The nominator must be an STFM member. The nominee must be an STFM member.Nominations are rated based on:

Successful progress toward the achievement of the advocate’s goals with clear articulation of advocacy plan and actions
Innovativeness of program or activity
Generalizability of the project or process
Sustained impact on local, state or national arena
Documentation that advocate's work inspired others to work for advocate's mission or to develop their own

How to Nominate

Nominators should complete the below nomination form (Word document). Send it and the following items to Nina DeJonghe at ndejonghe@stfm.org (linked email below) by October 4 each year:

A statement citing the nominee's involvement in a major advocacy effort(s), and appropriate program or advocacy materials, including a description of the activity or plan
Up to three additional letters of support from individuals familiar with the program or activity will be accepted
Curriculum vitae of the nominee

STFM Advocate Award Past Winners

2020–2025 Winners

2025: Evelyn Figueroa, MD
2024: Jehni Robinson, MD
2023: Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, MPH, MBA
2022: Randall Longenecker, MD
2021: Rebecca Etz, PhD
2020: Melissa Stiles, MD

2010–2019 Winners

2019: Andrea Anderson, MD
2018: Keisha Fallin-Bennett, MD, MPH
2017: Anne L. Kittendorf, MD
2016: Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH
2015: Dennis Dimitri, MD
2014: Jack Westfall, MD, MPH
2013: Joseph Gravel, Jr., MD
2012: Kevin Grumbach, MD
2011: Russell Robertson, MD
2010: Elissa Palmer, MD

2004–2009 Winners

2009: Larry Green, MD; Perry Pugno, MD; Samuel Jones, MD
2008: Allen Hixon, MD
2007: WWAMI Network of Family Medicine Residencies
2006: Robert Crittenden, MD, MPH
2005: Daniel Onion, MD
2004: Jeffrey Cain, MD

Questions?

For general questions about this award, contact Nina DeJonghe at the link below.

EMAIL QUESTIONS

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org

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)

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AI Chatbot Tips

Tips for Using STFM's AI Assistant

1. Avoid Ambiguous Language

Example:

2. Use Specific Terms

Example:

3. Don't Assume the AI Knows Everything

Example:

4. Reset if You Change Topics

5. Provide Enough Context

Example:

6. Ask One Question at a Time

Example:

Examples of Good vs. Bad Prompts

Bad Prompt

Good Prompt

Double Check Important Information

Technical Limitations

STFM AI Assistant