Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Transforming Healthcare Through Education

STFM Strategic Plan — 2012-2014

The STFM Board has identified the following interdependent priorities, outcomes, and strategies. These are not listed in ranked order.

Priority: Professional and Leadership Development

Outcome: STFM will be the leader in training, leadership development, and creation of information that improves family medicine education and teaching.

Goals and Strategies:
A) Develop and Disseminate Resources for Family Medicine Educators

  • Develop and support community preceptors in their teaching efforts.
  • Provide a national curriculum resource for medical student education.
  • Develop and disseminate tools to help residencies improve the evaluation of residents.
  • Provide a national curriculum resource for residency education.
  • Develop and disseminate tools to help residencies comply with the RC-FM requirements.

B) Provide Forums to Encourage Innovation and Sharing of Resources and Ideas

  • Continually improve STFM’s conferences and other in-person training offerings as premier showcases for educational innovation, professional development, and networking.
  • Improve online access to information through the Web site, Resource Library, fmCASES, and online education.

C) Provide and Highlight Leadership Programs for Members

  • Provide leadership development and emerging leaders’ opportunities.

D) Monitor and Disseminate National Issues That Impact Family Medicine Education

  • Increase the awareness of members on issues that have an impact on family medicine.

Priority: Scholarship and Innovation

Outcome: STFM will be the authority for innovation and research in family medicine education.

Goals and Strategies:
A) Disseminate Research and Information

  • Publish scientific, research, and general information to inform and educate members.

B) Provide Training and Infrastructure to Increase Family Medicine Research

  • Develop the CAFM Educational Research Alliance (CERA) to increase the number of published educational research articles and address faculty and resident scholarship requirements.
  • Support key initiatives like the Grant Generating Project that train members how to improve their grant writing skills.
  • Provide training to develop members’ skills in educational research and innovation at STFM conferences.

Priority: Workforce Development

Outcome: STFM will promote family medicine workforce development through innovation, curriculum development, and practice redesign in teaching sites.

Goals and Strategies:
A) Collaborate to Address National Workforce Development Issues

  • Collaborate with the AAFP and others on workforce activities specifically related to student interest and family medicine training.
  • Outline strategies for attracting and retaining faculty.

B) Highlight Strategies that Enhance Practices as Innovative Teaching Environments

  • Identify and disseminate exemplary lessons related to curriculum changes and initiatives on improving the quality of patient care in family medicine teaching sites.
  • Identify resources to help residencies and preceptor teaching sites transform into PCMHs.


Priority: Professional Relationships

Outcome: Relationships developed through STFM will enhance the professional well-being, vitality, and growth of members and the discipline.

Goals and Strategies:
A) Facilitate Relationships Among Members to Enhance Their Success

  • Maintain a community and services for senior leaders who move out of family medicine and into other academic leadership posts.
  • Enhance networking and mentoring opportunities.
  • Regularly examine membership benefits for relevance and value.
  • Maintain and support the programs and efforts of the STFM Foundation.

B) Build Relationships Between STFM and Other Organizations to Enhance the Discipline’s Success

  • Explore opportunities and alliances with other health care-related organizations in the United States and internationally that can significantly help us meet our strategic priorities.
  • Continue discussions concerning consolidation of family medicine organizations.
  • Provide management services for NAPCRG and ADFM.


Priority: Policy Advocacy

Outcome: STFM will develop and utilize its members’ expertise to positively influence legislation and regulations that have an impact on family medicine education and workforce development.

Goals and Strategies:
A) Advocate for Family Medicine Educators and the Discipline

  • Advocate on behalf of family medicine educators.
  • Lead and support the Academic Family Medicine Advocacy Committee and its legislative priorities.
  • Promote alliances that advance family medicine education.

B) Enhance Member Involvement in Advocacy

  • Improve communication of advocacy efforts to members.
  • Educate and mobilize members to be effective advocates at local, state, and national levels.