Online Courses

URM Leadership Pathways in Academic Medicine

URM Leadership Pathways in Academic Medicine

A new, free online course

Every pathway to leadership is unique. In this free online course, underrepresented in medicine (URM) faculty will learn about trajectories to academic leadership within a variety of institutions. 

The interactive course includes recorded advice from experienced faculty and assignments that will build your leadership skills. You'll learn to set career goals, project your leadership voice, build your professional network, and identify opportunities for career advancement.  

There are assignments throughout to enhance the application of your learning and help you plan your career and professional goals. We estimate that including the completion of those assignments, each module may take around 3 hours to complete, for a total of 6 hours for the entire course. 

This course was designed for URM faculty, but is also beneficial to allies who want to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment at their institutions. 

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Development of this course was supported by a grant from the ABFM Foundation.

This course includes two modules with videos, readings, and interactivities. The course has been optimized for use on any device.

If you decide to take the course over multiple sessions, pay attention to where you stopped. The course will not save your answers.

There are assignments throughout to enhance the application of your learning and help you plan your career and professional goals. We estimate that including the completion of those assignments, each module may take around 3 hours to complete, for a total of 6 hours for the entire course. 

To maximize learning, team up with a mentor and complete the assignments in this downloadable journal.

How to Begin: Click one of the module tabs to the left, then click the course link to begin. After completing the final module, you will be able to complete a brief course evaluation and download a certificate of completion. 

 

Module 1: Your Journey in Academic Leadership

Click here to start Module 1. 

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Discuss the importance of URM representation in leadership roles
  • Assess the pathways to academic leadership in four domains
  • Navigate and advance in academia by aligning opportunities with goals
  • Find mentors, coaches, and sponsors
  • This course will take approximately 1 hour to complete.

Authors:

  • Elizabeth H. Naumburg, MD
  • Andrea Anderson, MD, FAAFP
  • Natalia Galarza, MD, FAAFP
  • Cleveland Piggott, MD, MPH, FAAFP
  • Angela Echiverri, MD, MPH
  • Mary Theobald, MBA
  • Emily Walters

Module 2: Leadership Strategies for URM Faculty

Click here to start Module 2.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand the financial impact of career choices
  • Recognize what's valued for scholarship and promotion at your institution
  • Find balance between your commitments and personal priorities
  • Overcome isolation by building your professional networks
  • Manage conflict in skillful and intentional ways
  • Project your leadership voice

This module will take approximately 1 hour to complete.

Authors

  • Elizabeth H. Naumburg, MD
  • Andrea Anderson, MD, FAAFP
  • Natalia Galarza, MD, FAAFP
  • Cleveland Piggott, MD, MPH, FAAFP
  • Angela Echiverri, MD, MPH
  • Mary Theobald, MBA
  • Emily Walters

Questions?

Have questions or need help enrolling? Email Brian Hischier, STFM manager of Online Education, or call (913) 800-5198.

Contact Us

 

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

July 21, 2025, 12 pm CDT/1 pm EDT: Equitable Advisors Webinar: "Strategies for Pushing Past Your First $1 Million"

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

Due Dates

July 21, 2025: Apply to Serve on STFM Board of Directors

July 22, 2025: Proposals for a CERA Family Medicine Program Directors Survey Due

July 24, 2025: Apply to Serve as Student Representative on the STFM Board of Directors

July 24, 2025: Apply to Serve as Resident Representative on the STFM Board of Directors

July 25, 2025: Application deadline to serve on the STFM Board of Directors as the Student Representative and Resident Representative on the STFM Board of Directors

August 14, 2025: Nominations for F. Marian Bishop Leadership Award Due

August 30, 2025: Apply to Join the STFM Bishop Society

September 18, 2025: Award nominations are due for the following awards: STFM Excellence in Education Award, STFM Diversity Award, STFM Innovative Program, Lynn and Joan Carmichael STFM Recognition Award 

September 23, 2025: Nominations for Open Committee Positions Due

September 30, 2025: STFM New Faculty Scholars Program Nominations Due

October 4, 2025: STFM Advocate Award Nominations Due

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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.

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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?"
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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.

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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.
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Why this is important: Resetting ensures the AI does not carry over irrelevant information, which could lead to confusion or inaccurate answers.

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

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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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