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Bright Light: Kathryn Fraser, PhD

STFM Member Kathryn Fraser, PhD, is the behavioral medicine coordinator at the Halifax Health Family Medicine Residency Program in Daytona Beach, Florida. She is a past director of the Behavioral Science / Family Systems Educator Fellowship (BFEF) and currently leads the Mentorship Work Group as part of STFM’s Underrepresented in Medicine initiative. 

Embrace and Strengthen

by Kathryn Fraser, PhD

To overcome a sense of isolation—common for behavioral scientists—I started to get involved in family medicine conferences early in my career. When I attended my first STFM Annual Spring Conference, I was impressed with how STFM embraced behavioral principles in its programming. My early interaction with some visionaries in our field, like mentors Deborah Taylor, Julie Schirmer, and Jeff Ring, solidified my desire to contribute to our field and actively participate in STFM. My dedication to STFM grew when I was asked to be a mentor in the Behavioral Science / Family Systems Educator Fellowship (BFEF), and even more so, when I was recruited to be the BFEF director.

The Behavioral Science / Family Systems Educator Fellowship would not have been possible without STFM Foundation funding. The fellowship has served as a recruitment tool, bringing behavioral faculty to STFM, and has helped to increase the number of behavioral faculty attending STFM conferences tenfold. The network of highly qualified behavioral faculty has never been stronger, and the quality of instruction has improved exponentially.

I have also been deeply moved by STFM’s dedication to underrepresented faculty, health equity, and anti-racism efforts. Being a part of the Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) Oversight Committee and leading the URM Mentoring Work Group now allows me to participate in ground-breaking projects that facilitate the difficult conversations necessary to achieve equity and social justice in family medicine.

Why I Support the Foundation

The Foundation has purposefully funded projects which are key to the future of family medicine, such as the mentorship of behavioral science faculty and the promotion of topics pertinent to cultural and ethnic minorities in the practice of medicine. I have been able to embrace and advance my most significant goals as a behavioral medicine educator, and I am eager and proud to pay these opportunities forward as a contributor to the STFM Foundation.

Paying it Forward

Transforming the future of family medicine would not be possible without the generosity of people like Kathryn Fraser, as well as countless STFM members and supporters. Through both member and departmental donations, the STFM Foundation is able to support STFM's priority to develop the pipeline for academic family medicine. 

To transform the future of academic family medicine by donating to the STFM Foundation, contact Mindy Householder at 800.274.7928 or mhouseholder@stfm.org.

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To learn more or to support the STFM Foundation, click the button below, or contact Mindy Householder at mhouseholder@stfm.org or 800.274.7928.

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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.

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The Chat Assistant:

  • Cannot access external websites or open links
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  • Cannot access real-time information (like your STFM Member Profile information)

STFM AI Assistant
Disclaimer: The STFM Assistant can make mistakes. Check important information.