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STFM FM Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Educator's Certificate Program Now Accepting Applications

Applications Are Due February 23, 2024

December 1, 2023—The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine is now accepting applications for the new FM POCUS Educator's Certificate Program. This new program will train family medicine residency faculty to serve as their program's POCUS champion with the skills to train family medicine residents how to effectively use POCUS.

From April 2024 to May 2025, participants in the certificate program will benefit from:

  • A POCUS curriculum tailored for family medicine faculty
  • Robust in-person and virtual workshops
  • A series of case-based online modules on nine targeted topics
  • Image review with feedback by experienced faculty
  • Mentor/mentee small group sessions to discuss POCUS and review images
  • A final assessment with both written and in-person skills exams

The program component requirements are:

  • Workshop Component: Participants must attend three POCUS workshops.
  • Online Modules: Participants must be complete an STFM module series focused on teaching as well as content-based POCUS modules.
  • Mentorship: Participants will be assigned a POCUS mentor as a resource during their time enrolled in the certificate program.
  • Education Review: Virtual education reviews focusing on giving feedback on images as you would to your learner.
  • Image Portfolio: Participants will upload images for faculty to review and give feedback. This will give participants the opportunity to receive individual feedback and procure approved scans to use for credentialing.
  • Final Assessment: Participants must successfully pass a written knowledge assessment and an in-person skills performance exam.

Applicants must be current STFM members as well as:

  • A family medicine faculty member with resources to practice POCUS regularly.
  • A letter of support from your program director or chair stating you have the time and resources to fully participate.
  • Committed to attending monthly Zoom POCUS image review meetings.
  • Committed to attending in-person workshops May 3-5, 2024, and September 14, 2024, and a virtual full-day workshop in early 2025.

Applications can be submitted here. Please have your letter of support ready.

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

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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:
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.