Underrepresented in Medicine Campaign

The STFM URM Initiative

The STFM Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) Initiative, supported by the STFM Foundation, is working to:

  • Increase the percentage of URM family medicine faculty, and
  • Increase the number of solutions-focused, adaptable URM leaders within and across our healthcare system

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) definition of underrepresented in medicine is:

"Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population."1

A diverse workforce of family medicine physicians and faculty is required to support the future of health care and the needs of a diverse patient population. URM faculty members collectively make up only 9.4% of academic medicine while representing almost 33% of the national population.2,3 In recognition of this, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) has committed to developing strategies and providing resources to increase the number of underrepresented in medicine (URM) family medicine educators. 

Oversight Committee & Work Groups

An interprofessional URM Oversight Committee, chaired by Edgar Figueroa, MD, MPH, has convened to guide the progress of the Underrepresented in Medicine Initiative work. Four Work Groups are leading the development of strategies and measures for their Focus Area, while the entire Oversight Committee is monitoring the progress of the work and communicating with STFM members and the STFM Foundation about the work being done.

Quick Links

Areas of Focus and Objectives

The 4-year STFM URM Initiative focuses on the following four areas:

  • Create opportunities for developing meaningful relationships that lead to career advancement and leadership within STFM and academic medicine
  • Develop mentors who have the skills to help URM students, residents, and faculty improve resiliency, satisfaction, and retention in academic family medicine
  • Increase the number of URM family medicine faculty in leadership positions in academic medicine
  • Raise awareness of the structural barriers to URM achievement
  • Identify URM university and community preceptors who are excellent teachers, advocates for their patients, and leaders within their communities to increase their engagement in STFM
  • Use an evidence-based approach to define the need to support URM students, residents, and faculty in academic family medicine
  • Increase the number of URM students, residents, and faculty who have the skills to produce scholarly research

Leadership Blog Posts

The STFM Foundation launched a year-long blog series. In this series, The Path We Took, URM members share the path they took to become faculty and leaders in family medicine. 

  • Mi Gente—Edgar Figueroa, MD, MPH, shares how his STFM membership has allowed him to stay connected.

  • STFM Is My Most Precious Membership—Evelyn Figueroa, MD, shares that STFM gave me the tools to advocate and integrate concepts related to bias in healthcare such as racism, sexism, heterosexism, and privilege into my everyday teaching and patient care.

Sonja Shipley, MD is the  editor for the URM and Health Equity Blogs. Please consider sharing your story to inspire new STFM URM leaders to take advantage of what we all know to be career changing opportunities. You can send your story to Sonya at sshipley@umc.edu

 

 

Free Student Memberships

Medical students can join the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine for free! 

By offering free membership, the Society hopes to increase student interest in family medicine and to show them the value of teaching throughout their careers—either in faculty positions or in practice.

For information about Society benefits for medical students, view the Resources for Students.

Join Today
  1. AAMC. The status of the new AAMC definition of "underrepresented in medicine" following the Supreme Court's decision in Grutter. 2004; https://services.aamc.org/AMCAS2_2010/WebApp/Help/WebHelp/Disadvantaged_Status.htm. Accessed January 31, 2014.
  2. Census.gov. Quick Facts United States. 2018; https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US. Accessed September 4, 2019.
  3. Diversity of the Physician Workforce: Facts and Figures 2018. 2018; http://aamcdiversityfactsandfigures.org/. Accessed March 26, 2020.

Contact Us

 

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

January 30–February 2, 2025: STFM Conference on Medical Student Education

February 11, 2025, 11:30 am CST: Webinar: Planning for the Future: Personal Finance Education with Equitable’s Stephen Dunbar

February 28, 2025, 11 am CST: Webinar: Addressing the Residency Continuity Requirement: A Panel Discussion to Share Successes and Barriers

May 3–7, 2025: STFM Annual Spring Conference

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

Due Dates

February 4, 2025: Deadline for Presentation Proposals for 2025 Conference on Practice and Quality Improvement

February 17, 2025: Submissions for the 2025 Poetry and Prose Contest Due

February 28, 2025: Family Medicine Advocacy Summit Scholarship Applications Due

March 4, 2025: Medical Student Educators Development Institute (MSEDI) Applications Due

April 1, 2025: Early Bird Deadline for STFM Annual Spring Conference Registration

Useful Links

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.