STFM Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration

50 Years of Investing in the Future of Academic Family Medicine

On June 23, 2025, the STFM Foundation turns 50 years old as the charitable arm of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Family medicine pioneer and author G. Gayle Stephens, MD, was the founding president of the STFM Foundation in 1975.

The Foundation will be celebrating this landmark anniversary during the 2025 STFM Annual Spring Conference, held May 3–7 in Salt Lake City, UT, and throughout the remainder of the calendar year.

Read more about the history of the STFM Foundation below, and please consider donating to our special fund to commemorate the 50th anniversary. Click the link above, the button below, or scan the QR code.

DONATE FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
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History of the STFM Foundation

During the past half century, the Foundation has awarded approximately $1.27 million to support STFM programs – including scholarships, fellowships, and awards for future family medicine. The training these funds provide have helped fill the academic family medicine pipeline with future leaders for a half century.

The Leland Blanchard Memorial Lecture was the first STFM Foundation program, started in 1979 in memory of Leland Blanchard, MD, who was a major contributor to the development of family medicine and a charter member of STFM. Each year during the STFM Annual Spring Conference, one of the plenary sessions is honored with the title of The Leland Blanchard Memorial Lecture.

The STFM Foundation’s priority began to take shape over the initial years: develop leaders for family medicine education. The organization’s mission “to sponsor and facilitate programs that develop academic family medicine leaders” was crafted during the first strategic planning session in 1999.

Impact of STFM Foundation

During the past 50 years the foundation has given out approximately $1.27 million to support STFM programs and provide members with scholarships and awards. The training these funds provide help fill the academic family medicine pipeline with future leaders.

Starting in 1988, STFM has offered the New Faculty Scholars Program, which provides new faculty with one year of coaching, learning, and networking opportunities to develop leadership and scholarship skills. The STFM Foundation offers scholars $1000 to cover expenses to attend and present research at the STFM Annual Spring Conference. This program, which was originally called the New Faculty Orientation Award, has supported 257 new faculty in their journeys to become academic family medicine leaders.

In 1990, the STFM Foundation established the F. Marion Bishop Leadership Award. Honoring Dr F. Marian Bishop, this award recognizes senior leaders who have significantly enhanced the credibility of family medicine by a sustained, long-term commitment to family medicine in academic settings. There have been 35 award recipients since the creation of this honor.

In 2008, the STFM Foundation collaborated with STFM to initiate the Project Fund to promote and support collaborative research and educational projects of STFM groups. This fund encourages STFM Collaboratives and Special Project Teams to plan, develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate findings from educationally-related scholarly projects. Since 2008, the STFM Foundation has helped award more than $365,000 to 29 group or special project teams.

In 2009, the STFM Foundation began awarding scholarships to medical students to help them attend the annual STFM Conference on Medical Student Education, where they present their research and attend educational sessions. Since 2009, 264 exemplary students have received the STFM Foundation Student Scholarship.

Since 2015, the STFM Foundation has awarded family medicine residents with the Faculty for Tomorrow Resident Scholarship, which covers registration fees for residents to attend the full-day Faculty for Tomorrow Workshop and the STFM Annual Spring Conference. This program is supported in part by the generosity of Mary Nolan Hall, MD. A total of 155 family medicine residents have received this scholarship.

In 2020, the STFM Foundation established a Legacy Giving Endowment Fund to allow supporters of academic family medicine to establish their legacy and continue their contributions to the field after their career and even their lifetime. This fund created a Legacy Society to honor and celebrate individuals who have put STFM in their wills and other estate-planning mechanisms.

Other programs supported by the STFM Foundation over the past 50 years – largely thanks to the generosity of donors and STFM members – include:

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STFM Foundation Marathonaki 1986
A photograph from the 1986 STFM Foundation Marathonaki Fun Run & Walk.

 

STFM Foundation Student Scholarship winners at the 2025 STFM Conference on Medical Student Education.

 

Contact Us

 

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

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 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

June 10, 2025: Presentation Submissions for the 2026 Conference on Medical Student Education

June 17, 2025: Call for Proposals for CERA Family Medicine General Membership Survey

Useful Links

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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.