May 26, 2020—STFM has launched a new initiative to:

• Ensure that family medicine faculty—including community preceptors in non-academic settings—have sufficient time and institutional resources to teach and meet academic and accreditation requirements
• Preserve comprehensive practice for family physicians and family medicine faculty who wish to practice broad scope
• Improve faculty and learner well-being
• Transform family medicine training sites into clinical and teaching models of excellence.

This initiative addresses multiple strategies and tactics in the new STFM Strategic Plan. “Most physicians are employed by health systems,” said STFM Deputy Director Mary Theobald. “Our Board of Directors recognizes how important it is for our members to understand the systems in which they work, and how decisions are made.” In addition to educating members on the business of medicine, this initiative also includes tactics around making the business case to health systems leaders for investment in primary care/family medicine.

The initiative builds on STFM’s work on the Preceptor Expansion Initiative and Protected Faculty Time Guidelines, and aligns with the collaborative efforts of the family medicine organizations to engage with health systems leaders to preserve comprehensive training and practice for family physicians, improve health outcomes, and identify and spread best practices for optimizing the role of family medicine.

See the full summary of tactics/action items

Call for Initiative Chairs

Applications are Due June 17; Term runs July 2020 –July 2022

STFM is now accepting applications for a Chair and Assistant Chair to lead the new initiative. These leaders will work with staff to convene workgroups to develop and deliver training, build connections with health systems leaders, and advocate for family medicine. To apply, submit your name, job title, program/department, on a letter of interest (no more than 2 pages), to mltheobald@stfm.org by June 17.