Key Initiatives

Antiracism Initiative

The STFM Antiracism Initiative

From April 2021 through September 2023, an STFM task force implemented an initiative to advance racial equity and reduce the prevalence of racism in academic family medicine. Tactics and action items were aligned with STFM's strategic objectives to:

  • Help members identify racist structures and behaviors within their institutions and work with leaders to implement change.
  • Provide family medicine faculty and learners the knowledge and skills to be effective advocates for antiracism policies and practices in their institutions and communities. 
  • Enhance the knowledge and skills of family medicine faculty and learners in bestowed power and intercultural humility so they may more effectively serve as allies to BIPOC peers and trainees.
  • Help STFM members take action as upstanders
  • Integrate an antiracist analysis and identity into the work of all STFM resources and programming provided to members.
  • Provide support to STFM members in their efforts to transform family medicine educators, learners, and their institutions to be more antiracist.

Academic Family Medicine Antiracism Learning Collaborative

STFM conducted an IRB-approved study to measure the effectiveness of training and implementation of various projects and strategies to:

  • Empower and educate participants so they will identify racist structures and behaviors within their academic institutions and become leaders for change
  • Promote allyship
  • Spread effective change strategies

Between January 2022 and September 2023, selected pairs attended two full-day in-person sessions and five virtual sessions and implemented projects to reduce racism within their institutions. Pairs were assigned mentors who provided guidance and expertise.

Results of the study are pending.

The project was supported by a grant from Adtalem Global Education Foundation.

Implementation Guide for Learning Collaborative Participants

STFM Antiracism Initiative Task Force Members

Chair: Tricia Elliott, MD       
Senior VP, Medical, Academic, and Research Affairs, Chief Academic Officer
John Peter Smith Hospital (Tarrant County Hospital District) Family Medicine Residency, Fort Worth, TX

Thomas W. Bishop, PsyD, MA
Assistant Professor, Assistant Residency Director
University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI

Echo Buffalo-Ellison, MD 
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Charleston, SC

Renee Crichlow, MD
Vice-Chair, Boston University Dept. Family Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine

Edgar Figueroa, MD, MPH
Director of Student Health
Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY

Victoria Gorski, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Family and Social Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY

Cleveland Piggott, Jr, MD, MPH
Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for CU Family Medicine
University of Colorado (University Hospital), Denver, CO

Kristin Reavis, MD
Residency Director, Director of Student Diversity & Inclusion in the Office of Student Affairs
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Mary Theobald, MBA
Chief of Strategy and Innovation
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Leawood, KS

Emily Walters
Director of Education and Special Projects 
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Leawood, KS

Julia Wang, MD (resident)
Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency, Seattle WA

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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.

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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?"
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.

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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.

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.

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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?"
Why this is important: Specific goals, constraints, or preferences allow the AI to tailor its responses to your unique needs.

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

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Try: Start with "What are the faculty development requirements for Family Medicine educators?" Then follow up with your other questions after receiving the response.
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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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