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April 2025: Strengthen Your Advocacy Message Using Voter Voice with Nina DeJonghe, MPP

Family medicine professionals are deeply committed to providing high-quality care for their patients. However, they also recognize that political decisions significantly impact the communities they serve. In this episode, Nina DeJonghe, Director of Government Relations at STFM, shows us how to turn our passion for patient care into advocacy action. She pulls back the curtain on Congress and its operations, and champions the surprising efficacy of constituent letters. Ms DeJonghe highlights STFM resources to help you advocate at both the state & federal levels, shares ways you can influence national health care policies, and provides a plethora of resources to engage your powerful voice for change in family medicine.  

Hosted by Omari A. Hodge, MD, and Jay-Sheree Allen Akambase, MD
Copyright © Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2025

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Nina DeJonghe, MPP

Nina DeJonghe, MPP, is a seasoned public policy professional with several years of leadership, legislative, and non-profit experience. As the Director of Government Relations for the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), she oversees the advocacy functions for the Council of Academic Family Medicine (CAFM), which comprises the leadership of academic family medicine organizations. Nina liaises with Congress, federal agencies, external organizations, and relevant stakeholders to coordinate efforts that advance family medicine priorities. Her current advocacy efforts address critical issues such as workforce shortages, increasing funding for primary care research, expanding Graduate Medical Education (GME), and enhancing patient accessibility to healthcare services to improve community outcomes nationwide.

Nina is a Michigan native. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University. She has significant success working towards effective policy solutions, thoughtful partnerships, and accessibility to critical funding and resources. She has dedicated her professional career to strengthening marginalized and underserved communities.

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Events

May 3–7, 2025: STFM Annual Spring Conference

May 5, 2025, 7:30–11 pm: STFM Foundation MediPalooza Fundraiser

May 30, 2025, 12 pm CDT/1 pm EDT: Webinar: Ethical Use of AI in the Family Medicine Clinic

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

Due Dates

April 11, 2025: Applications to Serve as STFM Representative to World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) Due

April 22, 2025: Deadline to Submit Questions for a CERA Family Medicine Department Chair Survey

May 5, 2025: Deadline for Online Bids in STFM Foundation MediPalooza Auction

May 16, 2025: STFM Foundation Student Scholar Nominations Due

May 23, 2025: Applications to Serve on the STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement Steering Committee Due

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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.