Board Reports

All Board Reports

President's Report

Jeannette South-Paul STFM President William K. Mygdal, EdD

I am honored to have served as president of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine this year. Since May 2004, when I asked for your vote for the office of president-elect, I have emphasized three overarching issues to which STFM needs to give serious and continuing attention: (1) developing new partnerships with groups who can help family medicine educators secure funding for their educational efforts, (2) continuing STFM’s role as a primary source for personal and professional renewal, and (3) positioning STFM to make a meaningful contribution to the emerging New Model of family medicine. I am pleased to report that we’ve moved forward in all three areas. From the vantage point of 2 years’ immersion in these and other issues as your president-elect and president, I will use this Annual Report to review our progress.

The New Partners Initiative
Cutbacks in funding of Title VII of the Public Health Service Act—long anticipated but staved off through intensive lobbying for over a decade—finally took place at the end of December 2005. Total Title VII support was reduced from $88 million to $41 million. Currently funded projects will be able to complete most planned activities, but no new requests for proposals will be forthcoming. This change is a real setback because Title VII has been a key support for family medicine education efforts; its loss will mean significant adjustments. It is important, however, that we not get seduced into feeling sorry for ourselves; as teachers of family medicine we have enjoyed a great run of Title VII support and built innovative and effective educational programs. Now we need to develop new skills and attitudes centering on academic fund-raising.

In this regard I’m pleased to note that implementation of STFM’s New Partnership Initiative (NPI) is well underway and has accomplished significant benchmarks. NPI helps STFM members “develop new relationships and identify mutual interests” with private, public, and governmental partners. Our initial Academic Fund-raising Workshop, presented by the Family Medicine Education Consortium in December, was a spectacular success. Twenty-seven mid- and senior-level family medicine leaders participated, and five will complete an intensive fellowship during the coming year. A second workshop will be offered in conjunction with the Annual Spring Conference in April 2006. I thank the many individuals and groups who have contributed to this success, especially our NPI Think Tank and the Family Medicine Education Consortium.

Personal and Professional Renewal
Faculty development is one of our Society’s core values and has been the foundation of our meetings and our educational projects over the past 30 years. I am pleased that exciting and creative activities keep welling up from among the membership, staff, and Board. Some examples:
• The Board has approved the STFM Predoctoral Directors Institute, to be offered for the first time during the coming year. It will meet a strong need, as has the program director fellowship on which the new institute is modeled.
• The Patient Education Conference has been refocused as the Conference on Practice Improvement: Health Information and Patient Education. The conference’s reframed purpose has generated great interest and holds promise for helping our academic and private practices to realize family medicine’s new model.
• The Forum for Behavioral Science in Family Medicine, now cosponsored by STFM and the Medical College of Wisconsin, has shown increased attendance and exciting programming.
• I was privileged to attend and speak at the recent Predoctoral Education and Families and Health conferences. Both were well-attended, energetic, and vital meetings.

For the past year, through its strategic planning processes, the STFM Board and staff have also been giving careful consideration to our programs and conferences and the degree to which they meet the needs of members and our discipline. We are examining the structure and process for our major conferences to make sure that they both offer an opportunity for you to present your scholarship and also to examine the issues that confront our specialty. Currently we are refining a set of “funding magnets” for which we will begin to seek partners and support, including a fellowship for minority faculty.

All who practice and teach family medicine are the beneficiaries of the Future of Family Medicine (FFM) project, an extraordinary effort from 2002 to 2004 to study and plan for our common future. We are now in the implementation phase, during which each organization in the family of family medicine has responsibility for one or more strategic initiatives. STFM is charged with Strategic Initiative 8: Promoting a Sufficient Family Medicine Workforce.

The New Model of Family Medicine
Last spring, the Board approved a Special Task Force to refine and clarify our approach, with John Rogers, MD, MPH, as chair. The task force has done remarkable work, having identified and begun work on five priority programs: (1) a competency-based curriculum to teach students and residents about the New Model, (2) education for preceptors in the New Model, (3) FFM programming at all STFM conferences, (4) premedical school recruitment, and (5) a curriculum on communication skills and cultural competency. I’m satisfied that STFM is making real progress in helping to realize the New (now called the TransforMED) Model of practice. Space does not permit me to convey all the exciting developments in this area, but I am extremely encouraged to note that firm plans are in hand to identify and support 20 (instead of just two) residency demonstration sites. These sites will be locales in which we can study, learn, and show the value of the New Model, and they bode well for the vitality of our future.

The Big Picture
I want to mention several other signs of progress. First, our financial picture is improving steadily. Three factors have caused the Society to operate in the red for several years: the financial hit from cancellation of the 2003 Toronto Annual Spring Conference, the loss of contract income from the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Board’s decision to make significant yearly contributions to the spectacularly successful Annals of Family Medicine journal. Fortunately, through the hard work and the frugal approaches of the Board and staff, we are nearly out of the woods. We are hopeful that STFM itself will develop new partners and new sources of support in the next several years.

Second, membership is growing, the results of outreach by the Membership Committee and by conferences and services that you find helpful. We are eager for feedback and ways to improve what we offer to you.

Third, our legislative and other advocacy efforts have been especially active and productive this year. Although we took a hit on Title VII, we headed off much worse scenarios. We are deeply indebted to members of the Legislative Committee and to Hope Wittenberg, MA, STFM’s Government Relations Director. There is much more work ahead.

Lastly, I want to thank my fellow Board members and the STFM staff for their incredible support and colleagueship during the past year, a time that has flown past and has been full of absorbing and productive challenges. Thanks for your involvement and commitment to the future of family medicine.

Past STFM Presidents

2005-2006	William K. Mygdal, EdD
2004–2005	Jeannette South-Paul, MD
2003–2004	Carlos Moreno, MD, MSPH
2002–2003	Elizabeth Garrett, MD, MSPH
2001–2002	Denise Rodgers, MD
2000–2001	Stephen Bogdewic, PhD
1999–2000	Elizabeth Burns, MD, MA
1998–1999	John Frey III, MD
1997–1998	Joseph Hobbs, MD
1996–1997	Macaran Baird , MD , MS
1995–1996	Katherine Krause, MD
1994–1995	Janet Townsend, MD
1993–1994	Richard Holloway, PhD
1992–1993	Robert Davidson, MD, MPH
1991–1992	Marjorie Bowman, MD, MPA
1990–1991	Alan David, MD
1989–1990	David Schmidt, MD*
1988–1989	Jack Colwill, MD
1987–1988	Jonathan Rodnick, MD
1986–1987	Joseph Scherger, MD, MPH
1985–1986	L. Thomas Wolff , MD
1984–1985	H. Thomas Wiegert , MD
1983–1984	John Arradondo, MD, MPH
1982–1983	Thomas Leaman, MD
1981–1982	F. Marian Bishop, PhD, MSPH*
1980–1981	Edward Shahady, MD
1979–1980	William Kane, MD
1978–1979	Theodore Phillips, MD
1977–1978	L. Robert Martin , MD
1975–1977	Edward Ciriacy, MD
1973–1975	G. Gayle Stephens , MD
1971–1973	Leland Blanchard, MD*
1969–1971	Lynn Carmichael, MD

*deceased

Secretary-Treasurer's Report

John Rogers STFM Treasurer John Rogers, MD, MPH

The secretary-treasurer of STFM is responsible for presenting fiscal issues to the Board of Directors, but the real work is done by Roger Sherwood, CAE, executive director; Stacy Brungardt, CAE, deputy executive director; and Dana Greco, controller. Roger and Dana provide the Finance Committee and Board with a monthly report that includes a balance sheet of assets and liabilities/equity, a statement of income and expenses, and an analysis comparing the current and prior fiscal years. Roger and Dana also develop an annual budget for the next fiscal year, which the secretary-treasurer presents to the Board at its November meeting. Roger and Stacy manage the day-to-day activities of the organization that affect whether the budget approved by the Board becomes reality. These three talented and dedicated professionals are continuously seeking and developing ways to enhance the financial health of our organization. Their efforts, and those of the rest of the STFM staff, have significantly improved our bottom line from deficits in excess of $200,000 in 2002 and 2003, to a deficit just over $100,000 in 2004, to a deficit of less than $44,000 in 2005.

The budget for 2005 had projected income of $2,363,000 and expenses of $2,477,950, with a deficit of $114,950 due to $115,000 support for the Annals of Family Medicine. However, when the Annals of Family Medicine was started, the Board decided to fund the first 5 years of our commitment out of contract surpluses or our long-term reserves, so this projected deficit is not a real cash flow deficit. The budget projections were very accurate, with actual 2005 income of $2,413,384 and expenses of $2,470,926, for a deficit of $57,542, which when adjusted for contract net income, change in investment market value, and expenses charged to long-term reserves, resulted in a net deficit of $44,048.

The Board adopted financial performance measures for the Society proposed by the Finance Committee, which included five goals. The status of those goals for 2005:
(1) Maintain balanced budget—not achieved with deficit of $44,048
(2) Maintain balanced budget within sectors—achieved in each sector (publications, merchandise, grants, service contracts, and meetings)
(3) Cost of business operations not exceed regular business income—not achieved with shortfall of $134,836.
(4) Review fees and explore other income streams—achieved.
(5) Maintain strategic reserve for emergency and opportunity funds—achieved with $2,539,408 in long-term reserves, which is equal to 102.5% of 2005 budget or 12.3 months of expenses, when goal is to have 6 months of expenses in reserve.

The Board of Directors has also become more active in the financial aspects of the organization. This included consideration of our business model and core services, which would inform Board decisions about proposed Society initiatives with fiscal implications. We reiterated that faculty development is the Society’s core mission. We also had frank discussions of STFM’s future financial commitment and funding for the Annals of Family Medicine. As noted above, when the Annals of Family Medicine was started, the Board at that time decided to fund the first 5 years of commitment out of contract surpluses or our reserves.

In deliberating about the 2006 proposed budget, the Board renewed STFM’s commitment to supporting the Annals of Family Medicine but at a reduced level. The Board also anticipated the 2007 budget when we must fund Annals out of our regular operating budget. Given our recent budget deficits, adding support for Annals to the operating budget would lead to significant deficits unless there were substantial reductions in expenses or increases in revenues. For this discussion, the Finance Committee outlined a number of potential cost-cutting measures and new sources of revenue. The Board preferred to work to increase revenues to avoid significant budget cuts, so at its next meeting, the Board developed an extensive list of additional fund-raising strategies. The Board and staff are prioritizing these potential methods to identify those most likely to increase our income.

While the Society has had budget challenges like many organizations, we are sound fiscally with a substantial reserve, excellent budgeting projections, sound financial management, and a highly effective management team that has an actively engaged Board of Directors. STFM has an important mission, and with careful planning and implementation, we will have the financial resources to continue momentum toward our goals.

Executive Director's Report

Roger Sherwood, CAE

Another year, another report. It’s tough when you’ve been around as long as I have to come up with a creative way of describing what has happened in the last year. I’ve thought about delivering the report in verse, but what could be worse? Or how about chronologically? Nah, it would be difficult to fill in the slow months. How about by category (membership, meetings, legislative advocacy, etc)? I’ve done that before. . .

John Frey, an STFM president and good friend, has convinced me of the power of stories, but I don’t have a single story to tell. I have many—as many as the dedicated volunteers I get to work with every year.

For instance . . .
• Sharing pizza at a Chicago sidewalk café with Laconia Therrio, a master story teller, who had “discovered” the Behavioral Science Forum, and then proceeded to hold impromptu storytelling sessions for the next two evenings, which became a highlight for the many attendees.
• Hiking in Joshua Tree National Park in February on an afternoon off at a meeting of the HEADACHE Project Advisory Committee in Palm Springs with Bob Baldor, vice chair at the University of Massachusetts.
• Helping in February with a birthday party for underprivileged kids at the Heart House in Austin, Texas, an inspiration of Deborah Taylor, chair of the STFM Group on Family, to give back to the community where our meeting was held.
• Listening to President Bill Mygdal deliver greetings in flawless French (I think) in December to the Board of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and receive a rousing ovation.
• Participating in Indianapolis in December in a superb fund-raising workshop conceived by Larry Bauer to help us learn the art of asking for money for our programs.
• Brainstorming in November with the Advisory Committee of the Patient Education Conference to come up with a new identity and mission—the Conference on Practice Improvement: Health Information and Patient Education.
• Spending an afternoon in February on the golf course with three talented department chairs at the ADFM meeting in Albuquerque and learning more about the joys and woes of being a family medicine department chair.
• Spending a week in August backpacking in the Sierras with past presidents Jack Rodnick and Joe Scherger, and other family physicians and friends, where the discussions around the campfire at night were about our broken health care system and how to fix it.
• Joining the STFM Marathonaki runners and walkers at the 2005 New Orleans Annual Spring Conference in May and 4 months later reflecting on the fate of that unique city.
• Spending 5 hours traveling to Detroit in a van on a Saturday night in August with AFMRD leaders Sam Jones and Penny Tenzer and Annals of Family Medicine editor Kurt Stange after our flight from Pellston, Michigan, to Detroit was cancelled.
• Attending a luncheon at the AAFP annual meeting in San Francisco in September where the ABFM introduced its Pisacano Scholars and marveling at the accomplishments of this outstanding group of future leaders.
• Having lunch with John Frey, a barbecue aficionado, at Arthur Bryants in July in Kansas City (John’s mecca for barbeque) and having a fascinating conversation on humanism in medical education and John’s current favorite booklist.

After reflecting on these and other events over the past year, I again realize that I’m in a really enviable position. I get to work daily with a talented and committed staff. I get to witness the dedication of our Board and volunteers as they strive to make STFM meaningful for the members. I get to see and interact with many of you at meetings around the country. I get to witness the fascinating work of our 40 groups through listserves, reports, and presentations at meetings. It is indeed a blessing to be affiliated with STFM as executive director.

But then again, it’s not all roses. We’ve been on the road to recovering from financial downturns for the past 3 years. We’ve been engaged in mortal combat with the federal government for the past several years and took a serious wound in our Title VII grants in 2005. We’ve witnessed many of you struggle with tightened budgets and fear for the days ahead. We’ve been working hard to identify new sources of revenue to move the work of the Society forward without placing a bigger burden on the backs of our departments, residencies, and members—and it’s tough.

But, we’ll persevere, because that’s what family medicine is all about—taking the bad with the good, working to make a difference—you in the lives of your patients, we in the lives of our members. It’s comforting to know that we’re in this together.

STFM Board of Directors

President William K. Mygdal, EdD McLennan County Family Practice	President-Elect Caryl J. Heaton DO UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School	Immediate Past President Jeannette South-Paul, MD University of Pittsburgh
Secretary-Treasurer John C. Rogers, MD, MPH Baylor College of Medicine	Executive Director Roger Sherwood, CAE STFM	Member-at-Large Janice L. Benson, MD Cook County-Loyola-Provident FMRP
Member-at-Large Jeffrey Susman, MD University of Cincinnati	Member-at-Large Nancy Baker, MD University of Minnesota Physicians Smiley's Clinic	Representative to CAS Susan E. Skochelak, MD University of Wisconsin - Madison
Representative to CAS Valerie Gilchrist Department of Family Medicine NEOUCOM	Communications Chair Jacob Reider, MD Albany Medical College	Education Chair Jeffrey Stearns, MD University of Wisconsin Medical School
Legislative Affairs Chair Terrence E. Steyer, MD Medical University of South Carolina	Membership Chair Rick E. Ricer, MD University of Cincinnati	Program Chair James W. Tysinger, PhD University of Texas HSC at San Antonio
Research Chair Erik Lindbloom, MD, MSPH University of Missouri	Resident Representative Hanly Burton, DO	Student Representative Miranda S. McCann, MEd