News

STFM Messenger Expanding to Twice a Month

August Is First Issue of Twice a Month

August 1, 2025—There’s consistently a lot happening in the world of family medicine education—and the same goes for the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)!

In an effort to ensure our community is aware of all programs, events, resources, and more available with your STFM membership, we are expanding the popular STFM Messenger email newsletter to twice a month.

The STFM Messenger is our official digital news publication. It features information on STFM products and services, member highlights, and legislative updates, as well as other academic family medicine news.

On the first and third Mondays each month, starting with August 2025, you can expect to receive an email newsletter full of news related to family medicine education. We know there are a lot of events, resources, curriculum releases and updates, and more to keep up with having an STFM membership. We hope it’ll be easier for you and others in our community to digest everything over two emails instead of one!

Thank you for being an STFM member and a part of our academic community! We are proud you chose us to be your family medicine education home.

You can view all past editions of the STFM Messenger on the STFM website.

Contact Us

 

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

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

September 17, 2025, 1 pm eastern/12 pm central: STFM GME Leadership Panel Webinar Series: Balancing Strategic Priorities with Day-to-Day Fires

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

May 2–6, 2026: The 2026 STFM Annual Spring Conference

Due Dates

August 30, 2025: Apply for Family Medicine Associate Editor Position

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

September 2, 2025: Call for Presentations for 2026 STFM Annual Spring Conference

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 Applications Due

October 4, 2025: STFM Advocate Award Nominations Due

October 21, 2025: Apply to Serve on STFM Foundation Board of Trustees

October 28, 2025: Apply for the STFM Foundation Faculty for Tomorrow Resident Scholarship

November 1, 2025: Apply for Behavioral Science/Family Systems Educator Fellowship

November 14, 2025: Apply for Emerging Leaders Fellowship

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.