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The STFM Podcast

September 2025: Infertility in Medicine: A Personal Journey with Brintha Vasagar, MD, MPH

Infertility affects physicians at nearly twice the rate of the general population, but often only gets discussed behind closed doors. This episode of The STFM Podcast brings one of those private conversations into the open as Dr. Brintha Vasagar shares what she has learned from her personal journey with infertility. She reflects on how being a patient has reshaped her approach to care, unpacks the hidden costs and emotional toll of building a family in medicine, and offers heartfelt advice for residents, trainees, and junior faculty navigating similar paths.

Hosted by Omari A. Hodge, MD, and Jay-Sheree Allen Akambase, MD

Copyright © Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2025

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Brintha Vasagar, MD, MPH

Brintha Vasagar MD, MPH, is a board-certified family medicine physician and the Chief Medical Officer at Progressive Community Health Centers in Milwaukee, WI. A survivor of the 2004 tsunami that devastated South Asia, she has spoken before members of Congress and the United Nations about international health issues and disaster preparedness. Dr Vasagar continues to be passionate about health communication and has been featured on outlets such as NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox News, NewsNation, US News and Huffington Post. When she is not busy seeing patients or volunteering in the community, Dr Vasagar enjoys outdoor adventures with her family.

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Events

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

September 17, 2025, 1 pm eastern/12 pm central: STFM GME Leadership Panel Webinar Series: Balancing Strategic Priorities with Day-to-Day Fires

January 29–February 1, 2026: The 2026 STFM Conference on Medical Student Education

May 2–6, 2026: The 2026 STFM Annual Spring Conference

Due Dates

August 30, 2025: Apply for Family Medicine Associate Editor Position

August 30, 2025: Apply to Join the STFM Bishop Society

September 2, 2025: Call for Presentations for 2026 STFM Annual Spring Conference

September 18, 2025: Award nominations are due for the following awards: STFM Excellence in Education Award, STFM Diversity Award, STFM Innovative Program, Lynn and Joan Carmichael STFM Recognition Award 

September 23, 2025: Nominations for Open Committee Positions Due

September 30, 2025: STFM New Faculty Scholars Applications Due

October 4, 2025: STFM Advocate Award Nominations Due

October 21, 2025: Apply to Serve on STFM Foundation Board of Trustees

October 28, 2025: Apply for the STFM Foundation Faculty for Tomorrow Resident Scholarship

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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.

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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.

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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?"
Why this is important: Including relevant details helps the AI understand your specific situation, leading to more accurate and useful responses.

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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:

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?"
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Bad Prompt

"What type of membership is best for me?"

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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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