Awards

STFM Innovative Program Award

The STFM Innovative Program Award honors excellence in the development of an original educational program or activity for family medicine residents, students, or faculty. The award recognizes a broad interpretation of innovative family medicine programs to include innovative residency programs, clerkships, services, curricula, or other activities that have had a significant, positive impact on family medicine education.

The selection is made by the STFM Nominations Committee and approved by the STFM Board of Directors. Nominations are rated based on the:

  • Innovativeness of the program or activity, 
  • Sustained impact on home institution
  • Regional/national impact on family medicine education

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

A nominator must be an STFM member, although nominee may be a member or a nonmember; self-nomination is acceptable.

Prepare the following:

  • A statement from the nominator citing the nominee's accomplishments and activities that warrant consideration for the STFM award
  • A statement from the nominator citing the program/activity's impact on improving resident, student, or faculty education, and the regional or national significance of the program/activity and the nominee's involvement in the program or activity development,
  • Up to an additional three letters of support from individuals familiar with the program or activity, whether participants, graduates, or supervisors
  • Appropriate program materials for selection committee review

Complete the nomination form and compile above materials and send electronically to Kim Sevedge by September 18.

All nominees will be notified in late December.

Recipients for this award will be honored during the STFM Annual Conference. A representative of the winning innovative program will receive a commemorative award and a complimentary registration to the STFM Annual Spring Conference. 

View past winners of the STFM Innovative Program 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

March 14, 2025 8:30 am–5:30 pm CDT: POCUS Launchpad: Navigating Logistics of Implementing Ultrasound in Residency Training

May 3–7, 2025: STFM Annual Spring Conference

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

Due Dates

March 14, 2025: Medical Student Educators Development Institute (MSEDI) Applications Due

March 14, 2025: Deadline to Register for STFM Trip to Spain

March 15, 2025: Deadline to Apply for Medical Editing Fellowship

March 20, 2025: Deadline to Apply for Professionalism in Medical Education Task Force

April 1, 2025: Early Bird Deadline for STFM Annual Spring Conference Registration

April 11, 2025: Applications to Serve as STFM Representative to World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) Due

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

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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.