Behavioral Science/Family Systems Educator Fellows

Leadership

Fellowship Director

Bob McKinney, PhD, LICSW

The University of Alabama

Dr McKinney is an assistant professor of behavioral medicine at the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. He is also jointly appointed to the UA School of Social Work and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Office of Medical Education. He earned the MSW and PHD at the University of Alabama School of Social Work. He is a licensed, independent clinical social worker and a registered yoga therapist. He serves as the director of the University Medical Center Department of Social Services where he maintains an active clinical practice and supervises social work students from UA and other universities in their field placements.
As a faculty member of the UA Family Medicine Residency – Tuscaloosa, he teaches about the social determinants of health and works in interprofessional teams with residents and faculty to address the myriad needs of complex patients. For the School of Social Work, he teaches clinical supervision & ethics and complimentary, alternative, and integrative medicine in the DSW program. He is also appointed by the governor to the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners. 
Mentorship Director

Jay Brieler, MD

St Louis University

Jay Brieler, MD, serves as the associate program director and associate professor of the Saint Louis University Family Medicine Residency. Dr Brieler received his bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and his Doctor of Medicine from Southern Illinois University. He completed residency at Ramsey Family and Community Medicine in St. Paul, Minnesota with an emphasis on counseling and mental health. His research interests center on the delivery of behavioral health by primary care physicians and integrated behavioral health. He spends most of his free time with his wife and fellow family doc Michele, along with his daughters Isabel and Sophie. He occasionally gets time to play guitar with his band at small cozy venues.
Scholarly Projects Director

Katherine Bergs, PhD, LMFT (Incoming Co-Director Starting 2025)

JPS Family Medicine Residency, Forth Worth, TX

Dr Bergs is the director of behavioral medicine for the department of family medicine at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas.  She is originally from North Carolina, and completed training at East Carolina University (PhD, Clinical Health Psychology and MS Marriage and Family Therapy) and University of Colorado (Internship/Fellowship – Primary Care Psychology and Medical Education).  She has been with the JPS family medicine residency for 6 years and is an APD with the program.  She has clinical interests in behavior change interventions, sleep medicine, couples & sexual health interventions, and physician health.  She has research interests in physician health, sports medicine, and wellbeing/organizational interventions.

Incoming Scholarly Projects Director

Katie Fortenberry, PhD

University of Utah Division of Family and Community Medicine

Katie Fortenberry, PhD, is a clinical professor in the University of Utah Division of Family and Community Medicine, where she serves as a core curricular faculty member and directs behavioral health education for the Family Medicine Residency Program. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and PhD from the University of Utah. Dr Fortenberry is a past co-chair of the STFM Behavioral Health/Family Systems Collaborative and a trustee for the STFM Foundation. She has been involved with BFEF since its third year, first as a fellow and then as a scholarly project mentor and small group mentor. Her research and clinical interests include reducing barriers to health care by teaching medical and psychology trainees to work with behavioral health concerns presented in primary care effectively.

SMALL-GROUP MENTORS

Amber Cadick, PhD, HSPP
Union Hospital Family Medicine Residency, Terra Haute, IN

John Cavacece, DO
Grand Rapids Family Medicine Residency, Grand Rapids, MI

Katherine Fortenberry, PhD
University of Utah

Krithika Malhotra, PhD
Northwestern University, McGaw Family Medicine Residency at Lake Forest, Grayslake, IL

Sandy Sulik, MD
Syracuse Community Health Center, Syracuse, NY

Stephen Warnick, MD
Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Family Medicine Residency, Grosse Pointe Park, MI

Scholarly Project Mentors

Aaron Grace, PsyD
Waukesha Family Medicine Residency, Waukesha, WI

Adam Guck, PhD
JPS Family Medicine Residency, Fort Worth, TX

Carlie Nikel, PsyD
University of Missouri, Kansas City

Lauren Penwell-Waines, PhD
Novant Health Family Medicine Residency, Cornelius, NC

Danielle L. Terry, PhD, ABPP
Robert Packer Hospital/Guthrie Program, Sayre, PA

Meredith Williamson, PhD
Texas A&M Family Medicine Residency, Bryan, TX

 

Ask a Question
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.