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STFM Foundation Turns Underrepresented in Medicine Campaign Into Long-Term Initiative

October 15, 2018—At the September STFM Foundation Trustee meeting, it was determined that the Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) Campaign should be expanded into a two-phase, long-term initiative to better address the critical shortage of URM family medicine educators.

The first phase will be the initial 2-year, $150,000 campaign to raise funds to support existing programs and to increase URM participation in STFM. As of October, more than $115,000 has been raised, and $60,000 will be spent on additional URM scholarships and activities in 2019.

In the second phase, the Foundation will expand existing activities, partner with other organizations, and focus on these four areas with the following objectives:

Mentorship

  • 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

Leadership

  • Increase the number of URM family medicine faculty in leadership positions in academic medicine pipeline
  • Identify URM community and university physicians who are excellent teachers, advocates for their patients, and leaders within their communities and increase their engagement in STFM

Scholarship

  • 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

The STFM Foundation would like to thank all of the generous donors to this campaign. To donate, visit the STFM Foundation. These donations support additional scholarships for URM students to attend the Conference on Medical Student Education, scholarships for URM residents to attend the Faculty for Tomorrow workshop, and scholarships for new faculty to learn and network at the STFM Annual Spring Conference, as well as Emerging Leaders Fellowship scholarships.

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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.