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Partner Terms of Agreement

The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) is committed to presenting CME activities that promote improvements in health care quality and education and are independent of the control of commercial interests. As part of this commitment, STFM has outlined the following terms, conditions, and purposes of support for its CME activities. Partner support is designated for non-CME expenses associated with the conference. Each partner application will be reviewed by the STFM External Support Review Committee.

The conference partner will provide a non-CME experience for STFM conference attendees, via products, services, and professional training opportunities related to family medicine education and/or patient care.  Participation does not include any formal educational and/or training in a CME setting. Partner support is used for administrative and technical conference expenses, and is not used for any educational or meal portion of the conference.

STFM is required to ensure that the source of partner support from any commercial interest, either direct or “in-kind,” is disclosed to conference attendees. This disclosure will not include the use of a trade name or a product-group message.

The acknowledgment of commercial support may state the name, mission, and clinical involvement of the partner or and may include corporate logos and slogans, if they are not product promotional in nature.

Partnerships may be canceled by written notice to STFM by June 1, 2025.  Cancellations received between June 1, 2025 and July 1, 2025 will be refunded at 50% of partner fee. Cancellations received after July 1, 2025 are non-refundable, unless STFM is able to reassign partnership to a new partner. In the event STFM’s conference is canceled due to fire, strikes, governmental regulations, terrorism, or other causes, STFM and partners have no further obligation to each other, and STFM shall determine an equitable basis for the refund of such portion of the partnership fees as is possible, after due consideration of expenditures and commitments already made. It is the partner's responsibility to cancel all other arrangements made in connection with exhibiting, including hotel reservations, requests for the services of official vendors, or any other contracted services associated with the conference. 

Partners may not use the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine’s name, brand, logos, or acronym in any promotional or informational materials, signs, advertising, media promotions, or on the Internet without written consent of STFM.

Partners may not use the conference attendee list to contact attendees via email to promote partnership, products, and/or services.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted guidelines governing gifts to physicians from industry. These guidelines have also been adopted by the STFM and other medical organizations. In accordance to the AMA’s guidelines, gifts must be of minimal value, practice-related (related to work or school), and/or entail a benefit to patients. Partners are asked to use their judgment in distributing give-a-ways to conference attendees and/or their guests, and may limit distribution to attendees only, if they so choose. Prizes, awards, drawings, raffles, lotteries, or contests by individual partners will be allowed within their assigned booth space only, and with prior notification to STFM.

STFM cannot be held responsible for loss or damage of partners’ exhibit/materials of any kind. It is recom­mended that you do not place products or any other items of value on display at your table until your company’s representatives are in attendance. Please remove any valuable materials at the end of each day since security cannot be guaranteed.  

The purpose of this partnership is to further the education of meeting attendees through product and service displays and demonstrations. Sales and order taking are permitted provided all transactions are conducted in a manner consistent with the professional nature of the conference. Products for sale must be the partner’s own unaltered, marketed products, and the products or services must be pertinent to the attendees’ professional interest (family medicine education). STFM reserves the right to restrict sales activities that it deems inappropriate or unprofessional. Partners must comply with all business license and sales and use tax requirements.

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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.

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.