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Antiracism Survey Results Provide Direction for STFM Task Force, Committee, and Board of Directors

An Update from the STFM Antiracism Task Force

October 1, 2022In 2021, STFM convened a new task force to support members in dismantling structural racism in medical education. We asked STFM members about Racism in Medical Education and received 1,140 responses about your experiences and asks of STFM. Thank you all for your time and responses! 

Overall, members felt like their institutions were addressing racism in some regard:

  • 86.06% said their institution often (46.21%) or occasionally (39.85%) has discussions about how institutional racism affects their ability to meet their mission
  • 86.5% said discussions about racism, white privilege, power, and accountability are encouraged at their institution often (51.7%) or occasionally (34.8%)
  • 85.26% strongly agree (26.56%) or agree (58.7%) that their institutions are taking meaningful steps toward reducing racism

The information you provided was powerful. You told us about a desire for mentorship, institutional support, and strategies to address microaggressions. When asked how STFM can help, over 68% of you requested resources from STFM to guide practice to reduce the prevalence of racism in academic family medicine. We heard you! Since receiving the results of the survey, STFM has undertaken several important steps: 

The STFM Board has tried to lead by example by undergoing upstander training and making systemic changes to the organization. They have revised the bylaws to add a Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, effective May 2023. 

Lastly, our Antiracism Task Force has used grant funding from Adtalem Global Education Foundation to create an antiracism learning collaborative to give STFM members across the country training, structure, and support to promote health equity and antiracism in their own institutions. 

We know there is still so much to do, but we hope this shows some of the tangible steps we are taking to hear and amplify your voice. Thank you for informing the direction of these efforts and for all you do for our patients and learners. 

STFM Antiracism Task Force

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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:
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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.

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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.

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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?"
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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.

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Include Background Information: The more context you provide, the better the chatbot can understand and respond to your question.

Example:
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6. Ask One Question at a Time

Break Down Complex Queries: If you have multiple questions, ask them separately.

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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.

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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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STFM AI Assistant
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