Board Reports

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President's Report

STFM President Caryl Heaton, DO

It has been a deep honor to serve as president to the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine for the past year. It has been a privilege to spend so much time with members of the Society at its various meetings and conferences. It will be difficult to convey the creativity, wisdom, and passion that I have been witness to during this time, but I will try. The state of the Society is strong, the opportunities before us are vast and exciting, the challenges before us can be met.

The Future of Family Medicine 2.0
The Special Task Force on the Future of Family Medicine was created to direct the most important resource of the Society, our members, to the implementation of the recommendations of the Future of Family Medicine (FFM) Report. The Task Force identified five priority programs for STFM. The first goal, FFM programming at all conferences, was met last year. The emphasis on FFM programming continues with this year’s theme for the Annual STFM Spring Conference, “Teaching for the Future of Family Medicine.” Another significant implementation in STFM programming came with the transformation of the conference formally known as the “Patient Education Conference.” The conference steering committee, composed of representatives from the AAFP and STFM, modified the title and perspective this year, becoming the “Conference on Practice Improvement: Health Information and Patient Education” in November 2006 and prominently offering sessions on the New Model of family medicine.

The second and third priority programs for the Special Task Force were a Competency-based Curriculum (CBC) to Teach Students and Residents about the New Model and Education for Preceptors in the New Model. The first step for both priorities was the development of the curriculum, so for this year, the programs were combined, and special curriculum advisory groups were developed on six topics: Advanced Access, Group Visits, Using Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Performance Improvement, The Chronic Care Model, and Evidence-based Medicine. Each group used protected sites on the Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) to post and discuss their work. The first edition of these curricula will be available on the public side of the FMDRL (www.fmdrl.org) this spring. I would like to offer my great thanks to the leaders of these special work groups and especially to Jeff Susman, MD, for his leadership on the Competency-based Curriculum project. This is just the first version of the CBC, a curriculum that can evolve and grow on the FMDRL. In the coming year, work will continue while we begin to use the tools provided so far. Next year will also see the beginning of work to modify the curriculum specifically for community preceptors.

The Special Task Force’s fourth priority program was STFM’s response to the FFM Recommendation #8: “Promoting a sufficient family medicine workforce.” We all know that recruitment of students into the family medicine pipeline is no small task and has been a priority for the AAFP for some time. Our task force subcommittee accepted this challenge with energy, imagination, and a spirit of collaboration. The program Web site, Future Family Docs (www.futurefamilydocs.org), rolled out in January and provides resources and inspiration for mentoring students from middle school to medical school. The Task Force, ably lead by STFM Board Member-at-Large Janice Benson, MD, also has developed new relationships (dare I say “new partnerships”) with mentoring programs from the National AHEC Organization, the AAMC, and of course, the AAFP. I am truly excited about the potential for Future Family Docs. I believe that it demonstrates the resources and commitment of our members.

Finally, the Special Task Force Priority for a Curriculum on Communication Skills and Cultural Competency has led to the production of new programs for resident applicants and newly matched residents who have lived most of their lives in other cultures. The STFM Entering Resident Academy has been developed this year and will be offered for the first time in May of 2007. The purpose of this 2-day workshop is to orient participants to the principles of family medicine and critical communications skills necessary for success in residency. The STFM Residency Applicant Academy is currently under development and will be offered in the fall of 2007. The proposed 2-day workshop will introduce participants to principles of family medicine, components of the US health care system, professionalism, and interpersonal communication skills, especially those skills assessed during residency interviews. I would like to recognize the leaders of this initiative: John Rogers, MD; William Mygdal, EdD; Jane Corboy, MD; Kathy Zoppi, PhD; Deborah Seymore, PsyD; Jim Tysinger, PhD; Alison Dobbie, MD; and Laurel Milberg, PhD, for their work.

Special Initiatives
There are other special initiatives of the Society that continue to grow and a few new ideas that have just recently taken shape. The New Partners Initiative (NPI) has raised the consciousness of Society members to the opportunities for new relationships and the recognition of mutual interests with people and organizations outside of traditional academic medicine or the government. It is “intended to enhance our understanding of philanthropy as both a source of support and a way to become more engaged with our communities.” The Academic Fund-raising Workshop of the NPI was held again this year, and the New Partners Initiative Fellowship was offered to 12 participants. My thanks to Dr Mygdal and Larry Bauer, MSW, MEd, as they continue to lead this important enterprise for the Society.

Because a major goal of the Society is “to provide premier faculty development appropriate to the level of expertise and individual roles of our members, I am also pleased to report the first offering of a special initiative of the Education Committee and the Group on Predoctoral Education. The first session of the Predoctoral Directors Development Institute (PDDI) was held at the Conference on Predoctoral Education in Memphis in January 2007. Twenty-six participants began a year-long program specifically developed around the needs of the departmental predoctoral director. As a former predoctoral director, I am indeed proud that this program has been established, and I greatly appreciate the enormous work of Katie Margo, MD, PDDI chair, and the rest of the Steering Committee in its development.

Other faculty development initiatives have begun this year under the direction of the STFM Board of Directors. The popular Faculty Development Workshop series was taken “on the road” last year, with a successful program in Los Angeles in November 2006. This was an effort to create new options for members who may not be able, for various reasons, to attend our national meetings. Evaluations and registration results were very positive. The Society will continue to provide this workshop and other innovative offerings in faculty development. Look for our first online course provided by the Society in the coming year.

My presidential year ends with one last special initiative that, I believe, is critically important to the profession of family medicine and to the American health care system itself. The Family Medicine Forum on Health Care Reform is fundamentally a faculty development program, which we hope will inform, energize, and inspire a broad discussion of health care reform within the discipline. I am proud of the outstanding group of family medicine educators that have agreed to participate. I am grateful for their commitment to, in the words of our STFM strategic goals, “advocate for social justice to improve health care for all people.” As educators and advocates, we must come together to work for reform of the American system. We must become informed providers and leaders for reform. We must work for the end of disparities in our system and a place for a relationship-centered family medicine home as the central component for such a reformed system. I am proud that STFM is offering this first Forum.

The Fundamentals
I would be greatly remiss if I did not mention our STFM groups. The groups provide the fundamental networking function for the members of this Society. They provide us with opportunities for improved understanding, collaboration, and fellowship. One goal for this year was to support the groups in any way possible. With the help of modifications to the Web site and FMDRL, communication within groups will be more effective than ever. Every STFM member can be connected to their groups through the “My FMDRL” function.

I want to heartily thank the entire staff of the Society, especially Stacy Brungardt, CAE, deputy executive director, and Roger Sherwood, CAE, our executive director. It may be that the president of this Society has the best vantage point to see how effectively and professionally the Society is managed. In his role as executive director, Roger has not only been a leader within the Society, he has been a leader in the field of family medicine. With the announcement of his plans for retirement this year, the Society indeed has big shoes to fill. A special Executive Director Search Committee was established this year, chaired by Dr Rogers to direct the hiring of his successor. Besides myself, the Search Committee also includes Robert Graham, MD; Janice Benson, MD; Dr Mygdal; Harry Strothers III, MD, MMM; Terrence Steyer, MD; Mike Magill, MD; Roger Sherwood, CAE; and Perry Dickinson, MD. A new executive director will begin work with the Society in October 2007.

The state of the Society is strong. Our conferences are vibrant and successful. Our membership is growing, and our financial standing is in the positive column! These successes are due to the talent, enthusiasm, and hard work of its members and staff. The vision of the Society is to be “a community of educators, researchers, and clinicians leading to change that measurably improves the health of all people.” I believe that we are that community, and I believe that in this year we have worked hard for change that improves the health of our patients and our communities.

Past STFM Presidents

Many of STFM's Past Presidents met again
at the 2006 Annual Spring Conference.

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

STFM Treasurer Harry Strothers III, MD, MMM

I am happy to announce that after 6 years of deficits, the 2006 financial statement results show a turnaround from the deficit of $44,048 in 2005 to net income in 2006 of $24,660. The budget for 2006 had projected income of $2,457,250 and expenses of $2,456,245 for a projected net income of $1,005.

Achieving a net surplus did not come easily. The Society owes a debt of gratitude to a committed staff who achieved this result. The Board is very supportive of the staff, who were instrumental in our turnaround. The staff worked hard to retain and recruit new members, and we watched expenses closely and saved money wherever feasible. STFM is continually on the alert for new ways to generate revenue and to enhance traditional sources of revenue in ways that are consistent with our mission. All of these efforts paid off; please thank the STFM staff when you interact with them.

The financial performance measures adopted by the Board included five goals. For 2006, the results are:
• Maintain a balanced budget. Result: Achieved with a $24,660 net surplus.
• Maintain balanced budget within sectors. Result: Achieved in each sector. The sectors are publications, merchandise, grants, service contracts, and meetings.
• Cost of business operations not to exceed regular business income. Result: Not achieved with shortfall of $102,862. This goal will always be a challenge to meet as it has taken all areas of income, not just regular income, to overcome our deficits and return to black ink. We will continue to work toward this goal.
• Review fees and explore other income streams. Achieved and ongoing. Examples from 2006 include Board approval for increases in the nonmember conference registration rates, late registration fee amounts, and submission fees for nonmembers. Looking forward to 2007, examples of new income streams include a membership dues increase on an incremental scale for the next 5 years, the launch of the Predoctoral Directors Development Institute, and the launch of the Family Medicine Residency Preparation Academy.
• Maintain strategic reserve for emergency and opportunity funds. Achieved. We have 1 year of expenses in long-term reserves, and our goal is to maintain 6 months. We also met the earnings test for the Opportunity Fund and transferred the maximum amount available to the fund.

We have some big challenges for 2007. One will be to maintain our “black ink” while having to fund the Annals of Family Medicine from our regular operating budget. Our biggest challenge may be to stay on task while saying good-bye to our leader of 26 years, Executive Director Roger Sherwood, as he retires. Roger gives much of the credit for the 2006 turnaround to his staff, but they couldn’t have done it without his leadership.

2006 Income

2006 Expenses

Executive Director's Report

Roger Sherwood, CAE

In preparation for writing what will be my last annual report as STFM executive director, I thought it might be interesting to look through the annual reports from the last 25 years. It was a fascinating review and an exercise in nostalgia.

I was particularly captivated by the pictures of STFM members over the years, as I count many of the people in the pictures among my good friends today. I reflected back over the 25 presidents I had served under and fondly remembered experiences with those committed individuals. I was reminded by the 1993–1994 Board that all three members-at-large of the Board that year, Betsy Garrett, MD, MSPH; Joseph Hobbs, MD, and Carlos Moreno, MD, MSPH, subsequently served as STFM presidents.

There were also some milestones I marked through the years. When I came to STFM in 1981, our budget was $515,000. Today it is $2.3 million. There were 2,300 members, and today there are 4,800. Other milestones included the benefit concert presented by Board members at the 1990 Annual Spring Conference in Seattle to raise money for a Seattle homeless shelter. Our government relations operation started in 1991, when Hope Wittenberg joined the staff. A particularly captivating photo was the Board in tuxedos and gowns during the 1992 25th anniversary celebration.

One of the hallmarks and success stories of STFM has been its special interest groups. The concept started with Marian Bishop’s vision back in 1981, and today we have 40 such groups. Groups come and go based on member interest and effective leadership. Some of the earlier groups reflect the times and focused on issues like school health, use of psychological inventories, medical records, nuclear issues, Balint training, substance abuse, etc. It has been a joy to observe and work with the leaders of these STFM groups through the years.

I am pleased that the 2006–2007 year has been very positive for the Society. We finally turned the corner on finances, and finished 2006 in the black, recovering from 6 years of deficits. Membership turned around in 2006, and our meetings provided record revenue. Advertising income from Family Medicine reached an all-time high. We are engaged in many important initiatives, including our FFM Special Task Force, the Program Directors Development Institute, FMDRL, and expanded educational offerings. It feels good to end my last full year on such a positive note.

My 25 plus years as executive director of STFM has been a wonderful journey. I’ve been blessed to work with the best and the brightest, both on the STFM staff and the volunteer ranks. I’ve been impressed over the years by the visionary zeal of our family medicine educators and amazed at all we have accomplished together. To all of you I’d like to say, thank you for including me as one of you. As I talk with my association executive director colleagues, I’m reminded again and again how blessed I’ve been to have been a part of such a wonderful organization. I will miss the daily encounters I’ve had with you through STFM but will forever treasure the experiences and the relationships.

STFM Board of Directors

President Caryl J. Heaton DO UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School	President-Elect John C. Rogers, MD, MPH Baylor College of Medicine	Immediate Past President William K. Mygdal, EdD Ft Collins FMR, Ft Collins, Colo
Secretary-Treasurer Harry S. Strothers III, MD, MMM Morehouse School of Medicine	Executive Director Roger Sherwood, CAE STFM	Member-at-Large Janice L. Benson, MD Cook County-Loyola-Provident FMRP
Member-at-Large Nancy Baker, MD University of Minnesota	Member-at-Large Deborah K. Witt, MD Thomas Jefferson University	Representative to CAS Susan E. Skochelak, MD University of Wisconsin
Representative to CAS Valerie Gilchrist, MD East Carolina University	Communications Chair Betsy Naumburg, MD University of Rochester	Education Chair Jeffrey Stearns, MD University of Wisconsin
Legislative Affairs Chair Terrence E. Steyer, MD Medical University of South Carolina	Membership Chair Sim Galazka, MD University of Virginia	Program Chair James W. Tysinger, PhD University of Texas HSC at San Antonio
Research Chair Erik Lindbloom, MD, MSPH University of Missouri	Resident Representative Kristen Goodell, MD Tufts University Family Medicine Residency	Student Representative Terri A. Nordin University of Iowa