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Bright Light: Rick Kellerman, MD

STFM Member Rick Kellerman, MD is professor and chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, and past president and board chair, American Academy of Family Physicians. Rick has been an active member of STFM for 28 years.

Rick's Story

by Rick Kellerman, MD

When my program director, Dave Holden, MD, asked me to stay on as a faculty member after residency, I was honored that he would think of me as faculty. Later, I realized that he asked me to stay because of an acute faculty shortage in our program!

Through Dr. Holden's resourcefulness, I was able to attend my first STFM Annual Spring Conference in 1981 at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego and had the privilege of meeting a number of impactful early family medicine education leaders, including Ed Shahady, Robert Taylor, Ed Ciriacy, Ted Phillips, Marian Bishop, and Gayle Stephens. 

My STFM family grew even larger after receiving the STFM New Faculty Scholar Award when I was introduced to mentors like Joe Scherger, Nik Zervanos, Tom Wolff, Alan David, Marge Bowman, Betsy Garrett, Mac Baird, and John Frey. Over the years, I have received support from current STFM staff members Stacy Brungardt and Hope Wittenberg, and Roger Sherwood, Priscilla Noland, as well as former AAFP staff member Bob Graham.

My relationships with these encouraging and uplifting family medicine leaders have, in turn, inspired my interest in the development of new young faculty. I am a better teacher, academic, mentor, advisor, leader, and family physician because of STFM.

Paying It Forward

In the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, STFM membership is a faculty benefit. Along with the Department of Family and Community Medicine supporting the STFM Foundation financially, we encourage our faculty to attend STFM conferences, because they return inspired by what others in family medicine are accomplishing through education, educational innovations, and planned future endeavors. Two of our own faculty members (Kari Nilsen, PhD, 2018, and Laura Mayans, MD, 2016) have benefitted from receiving the New Faculty Scholar award, and we often interview authors about articles published in Family Medicine during departmental teleconferences.

How You Can Help 

Transforming the future of family medicine would not be possible without the generosity of Rick Kellerman and countless other 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. 

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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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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.