JOB DESCRIPTION: EDITOR IN CHIEF, FAMILY MEDICINE

The Editor in Chief (EIC) of Family Medicine will guide and implement a vision for the journal that disseminates high-quality educational research and innovations to enhance care of patients, improves family medicine education, and supports family medicine faculty.

The EIC will:

  • Exemplify leadership skills and personae to keep the journal relevant and responsive to the discipline of family medicine, the needs of the journal’s readers, and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
  • Be a thought leader for the discipline, displaying this skill through the journal’s special issues, editorial, and communications with other leaders, organizations, and journals
  • Have a personal experience with research and scholarship
  • Demonstrate a commitment to high quality, rigorous scientific methods, statistics, and other analytic methods, research and publishing ethics, the peer-review process, and the discipline of family medicine
  • Possess a sense of and guide other journal staff in clear writing, style, organization, and presentation of information
  • Align the journal with STFM’s antiracism and health equity goals promoting diversity in journal staff as well as authorship
  • Be able to effectively delegate to others and demonstrate the ability to adhere to established timelines
  • Build a culture of mentoring authors with robust, constructive feedback
  • Keep the journal on the cutting edge of publishing
  • Advance the quality of the journal’s content and evaluate journal outcomes in a rigorous manner

The EIC should view the journal as a mechanism that helps STFM achieve its vision, purpose, and goals. The EIC’s responsibilities include periodically revisiting the journal’s mission and shaping its future, soliciting articles, coordinating the peer-review process, editing submissions in a timely manner, managing an effective editorial board, and collaborating with the publisher to increase the journal’s visibility and readership.

The EIC is appointed to a 3-year term by the STFM Board of Directors. The appointment is renewable for additional 3-year periods up to a total of 12 years. Supervisory control of the position resides with the Communications Committee and the STFM Board of Directors. The EIC will maintain liaison with the STFM Communications Committee but will be expected to operate on an independent basis in nearly every function of this position. The editor must be aware of the policies of STFM and operate within this framework. The EIC should view the journal as a mechanism that helps STFM achieve its purpose and goals.

The EIC will conduct the following, leadership, management, and coordination duties.

I. LEADERSHIP

  • Define and update the aims, scope, and list of interesting topics for the publication.
  • Work directly with the publisher, associate editors, and Editorial Advisory Board members to promote the journal to potential authors, researchers, and readers.
  • Serve as the face of Family Medicine by traveling to relevant conferences to promote the publication’s standing, solicit papers, generate ideas, network, etc.
  • Foster interaction among those generating and using the new knowledge published in the journal.
  • Identify and encourage special issues topics.
  • Lead the Editorial Advisory Board, making effective use of their abilities.

II. MANAGEMENT/COORDINATION

  • Oversight of the journal’s complete editorial process from submission to publication. Work directly with the managing publisher on production process, timelines, and format.
  • Ensure that journal contents are relevant contributions to knowledge in the field and are of high quality, valid, credible, authoritative, readable, and relevant to the journal’s scope and mission.
  • Establish and enforce explicit editorial policies for the journal, including policies on authorship, conflict of interest, ethical principles, peer-review process, etc.
  • Establish and implement procedures to help maintain and monitor journal quality and identify errors and problems.
  • Evaluate all submitted material fairly, avoiding bias, conflict of interest, and external pressure in making editorial decisions.
  • Explore electronic publishing alternatives and other innovative means of interactive information exchange.
  • Build family medicine research capacity through: 1) providing constructive, nurturing feedback regarding manuscript submissions from authors, 2) encouraging mentoring activities such as providing workshops in appropriate meetings covering research publication and manuscript preparation, 3) providing input as appropriate into discussions regarding broader issues of family medicine research capacity building, especially concerning the publication of research at all levels.
  • Determine the publication sequence for accepted manuscripts in conjunction with the associate editors and publisher.
  • Meet budget expectations set by the publisher.
  • Guide the selection of associate editors with expertise in antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Recommend candidates to serve on the Editorial Advisory Board to the STFM Communications Committee based upon expertise, experience, and consideration of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  • Oversee and evaluate the performance of the associate editors and Editorial Advisory Board members.
  • Develop an adequate pool of qualified reviewers from the STFM membership and other sources.
  • Communicate with the Communications Committee chair on matters pertaining to the journal.
  • Provide an annual report to the Communications Committee and the STFM Board that summarizes the journal’s activities over the year, including acceptance/rejection rates and manuscript turn-around time frames.
  • Conduct an annual meeting with the Editorial Advisory Board.
  • Oversee the STFM Medical Editing Fellowship.

III. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Personal experience with the publication cycle of medical literature.
  • Experience leading teams at complex tasks.
  • Possesses a reputation for excellence, integrity, and fairness.
  • Skilled at effectively developing relationships and communicating with key stakeholders.
  • Effective at conflict resolution.
  • Seen as a champion for the specialty of family medicine.

ESTIMATED TIME COMMITMENT:

The EIC can expect to spend on average 2 half days per week on journal duties. With additional time as needed for editorial writing, dedicated issue development, etc.

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Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

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Events

April 7–May 5, 2025: STFM Foundation Online Auction Bidding

May 3–7, 2025: STFM Annual Spring Conference

May 5, 2025, 7:30–11 pm: STFM Foundation MediPalooza Fundraiser

May 30, 2025, 12 pm CDT/1 pm EDT: Webinar: Ethical Use of AI in the Family Medicine Clinic

July 21, 2025, 12 pm CDT/1 pm EDT: Equitable Advisors Webinar: "Strategies for Pushing Past Your First $1 Million"

September 8–10, 2025: The 2025 STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement

Due Dates

May 5, 2025: Deadline for Online Bids in STFM Foundation MediPalooza Auction

May 16, 2025: STFM Foundation Student Scholar Nominations Due

May 23, 2025: Applications for Leadership Through Scholarship Fellowship

May 23, 2025: Applications to Serve on the STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement Steering Committee Due

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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.