PUBLICATIONS

STFM Podcast February 2026 Episode

The February 2026 episode of the STFM Podcast is titled "An Opportunity to Thrive - AI in Family Medicine" and features STFM President Steven Lin, MD. Listen on this page below or through a streaming platform.

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By reducing administrative burden, AI use in the clinic has helped many family medicine physicians get back to the joy of practice, but there is much more to come. STFM President Steven Lin, MD, explores how artificial intelligence transforms clinical practice daily, as well as how the specialty can and should guide its development. Dr Lin highlights current and forthcoming AI resources from STFM that support family medicine educators and clinicians as they research, test, and implement AI in the clinic to advance patient care. “AI should let us perform the core functions of family medicine. This is an opportunity to thrive.” Copyright © Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2026

Listen to All Episodes

Resources

Curricula

STFM’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Primary Care Curriculum (AiM-PC)
Generative AI Bootcamp for Family Medicine Clinician Educators, Scholars , and Learners—STFM Annual Spring Conference Preconference Session
Family Medicine Artificial Intelligence Centers of Excellence

Webinars

Rethinking Bias in AI—Why Algorithmic Bias is Only the Tip of the Iceberg with Steven Lin, MD, and Tricia Elliott, MD—STFM Inclusivity and Health Equity Webinar Series
Ethical Use of AI in the Family Medicine Clinic with Winston Liaw, MD, MPH; Vaso Nataly Rahimzadeh, PhD; Ioannis A. Kakadiaris, PhD; Samira A.Rahimi, B.Eng, PhD

Podcasts

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Primary Care—A Panel Discussion - STFM Podcast

Plenary Conference Presentations

Building Equity into Health Care AI—2025 Annual Spring Conference Blanchard Lecture
Artificial Intelligence and Family Medicine Education—2025 Conference on Medical Student Education Opening Session
Generative AI Research and Education—2024 Annual Spring Conference Closing Session

Articles

Establishing a National Framework for Family Medicine AI Centers of Excellence—Family Medicine
Can We Trust AI?—Family Medicine
How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine—Family Medicine
A Family Medicine Shared Vision and Road Map for AI in Primary Care—Annals of Family Medicine
Generative Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models in Primary Care Medical Education—Family Medicine
Guiding Human Decisions in the Age of AI—Family Medicine
Using Artificial Intelligence in Clerkship Learner Assessment—Family Medicine
Artificial Intelligence and Family Medicine—Family Medicine
“Teacher”—Family Medicine, President's Column
A Life in Family Medicine—STFM Blog

Stephen Lin, MD

Steven Lin, MD, is the Chief of General Primary Care and the Head of Technology Innovation for the Division of Primary Care and Population Health at Stanford University School of Medicine. His focus is on the intersection of health services innovation, digital health and emerging technologies – specifically artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare. Steven is the Founding Director of the Stanford Healthcare AI Applied Research Team, a primary care-focused AI/ML implementation center partnered with 50 organizations across industry, academia, non-profit and government to bring leading-edge AI/ML technologies from “code to beside” in support of the Quintuple Aim. He was a James C. Puffer/American Board of Family Medicine Fellow with the National Academy of Medicine and is the author of over 450 scholarly works and conference presentations.

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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)

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STFM Podcast February 2026 Episode

Listen to All Episodes

Resources

Curricula

Webinars

Podcasts

Plenary Conference Presentations

Articles

Stephen Lin, MD

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AI Chatbot Tips

Tips for Using STFM's AI Assistant

1. Avoid Ambiguous Language

Example:

2. Use Specific Terms

Example:

3. Don't Assume the AI Knows Everything

Example:

4. Reset if You Change Topics

5. Provide Enough Context

Example:

6. Ask One Question at a Time

Example:

Examples of Good vs. Bad Prompts

Bad Prompt

Good Prompt

Double Check Important Information

Technical Limitations

STFM AI Assistant