STFM Leadership Opportunities

How You Can Get Involved!

STFM offers a number of roles for members to get engaged in the leadership of the organization. Whether you are a new member or someone who has been a member of the Society for several years, there is a role to fit your interests. What follows is a list of leadership opportunities that will help you decide what level of involvement fits your interests.

Board Service

STFM Board of Directors
There are 18 members of the STFM Board, including the Executive Director. Elected positions are:

  • President
  • President-elect
  • Secretary-Treasurer
  • Council of Academic Society Representatives (2)
  • Members at Large (3)
  • Resident Representative
  • Student Representative
  • Standing committee chairs (6)

With the exception of the Resident and Student Representatives, which are elected at the National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Students, the Nominations Committee is responsible for selecting the candidates who run for STFM office. The committee considers many factors when selecting candidates, including diversity of perspective on the Board, level of leadership activity within STFM, current strategic priorities of the Board, and the talents of the individuals being considered. Individuals are welcomed to self-nominate. A call for nominees is published in the August STFM Messenger.

Here’s more information about the responsibilities of each Board position and what is expected of Board members.

Contact Stacy Brungardt if you are interested in being considered for STFM Board service

STFM Foundation Trustees
The Trustees serve as the Foundation Board of Directors. Diversity is critical component of the selection process for Trustees, along with an individual’s level of engagement in the Society and the Foundation and a person’s interest in moving the Foundation forward. Trustees can serve for up to two 4-year terms. Contact Stacy Brungardt with an interest in serving in this role. The Trustee Expectations document also provides some insight into what is expected of individuals in this role.

Committees, Groups, and Task Forces

STFM Committees
Individuals on committees serve 2-year terms that are renewable for one additional term.

  • The Communications Committee oversees the publication of Family Medicine, the STFM Resource Library and other STFM electronic communications, policies related to STFM awards, and STFM monographs.
  • The Education Committee oversees the Predoctoral Education Conference, the Education Column in the STFM Messenger, the Academic Track, and the Faculty Development Series workshops.
  • The Legislative Affairs Committee represents the interests of family medicine by monitoring and advocating STFM positions to appropriate government agencies.
  • The Membership Committee reviews and develops membership promotions and programs and monitors members’ needs.
  • The Program Committee plans the Annual Spring Conference, which serves as a showcase for the latest developments in family medicine education and research.
  • The Research Committee oversees research offerings for the Annual Spring Conference and promotes the continued development of researchers, research activities, and research support for family medicine.
  • The three-person Nominations Committee selects individuals to run for STFM office. Terms for Nominations Committee members are 3 years.

STFM Group Chairs
The strength of STFM is indisputably the energy, creativity, and commitment of its members. This energy is seen at its best in the activities of the Society’s special interest groups, which are organized around a topic of interest requested by members who apply for and are given official sanction by the Board of Directors.      

Group chairs provide the leadership and inspiration that accomplishes the work of the groups. The Society’s practice is to empower groups to organize themselves and primarily work on activities of greatest interest to them. On occasion, the STFM Board will ask a group to lead an initiative deemed of critical importance to STFM. Groups chairs are asked to submit annual goals for the group and communicate regularly on activities with the STFM Board. More details on helpful information for chairs related to planning projects and activities is available in the Group Chairs Guide.

STFM Groups
STFM has nearly 50 special interest groups on a variety of topics. STFM groups define an ongoing interest group of members who work toward specific goals. Groups allow members to address special areas of interest and develop curricula, monographs, meetings, and network. Participating in groups that interest you is a key to obtaining the most from your membership. You will find that you are welcomed, whatever your expertise, whether you are a new or an established member of the Society. View current STFM Groups. If you don't see your area of interest, learn how to start a new STFM Group.

STFM Task Forces
As the need arises, STFM will create a task force of member to tackle an important project within STFM. Recent task forces that have been filled are the Future of Family Medicine Special Task Force, the Family Medicine Clerkship Core Content Curriculum Task Force, and the Leadership Development Task Force. Watch in the STFM Messenger for opportunities to serve on future task forces. It’s important that you let us know your educational interests. This information is valuable in helping us select task force members.

Publication Reviewers

Family Medicine Editorial Board
The Family Medicine editor selects Family Medicine Editorial Board members. Generally, it’s helpful if you’ve served as a reviewer for Family Medicine if you are interested in be selected for this role. Contact Traci Nolte if you have an interest in serving on the Editorial Board.

Family Medicine Reviewer
The editors for Family Medicine are always looking for good reviewers for papers. Contact Traci Nolte if you have an interest in serving in this role.

STFM Resource Library Editorial Board
The Editorial Board for the STFM Resource Library (FMDRL) oversees policies and practices related to the Resource Library. The FMDRL editor selects Editorial Board members. Contact Traci Nolte if you have an interest in serving on the Editorial Board.

STFM Resource Library Reviewer
The STFM Resource Library offers a feature where materials can be peer reviewed. STFM groups have identified individuals to oversee this task. Contact the group chair on a topic where you have interest and expertise if you would like to serve as a peer reviewer for the STFM Resource Library.   

Teaching Physician Author
Our Teaching Physician e-newsletter provides preceptors at teaching sites with practical teaching tips and insight. If you have an interest in authoring a piece for this e-newsletter, contact Traci Nolte.

Other Liaison Activities

ACE Representative
The Alliance for Clinical Education is a consortium of eight clerkship director groups that sponsor joint projects and represent those groups at the AAMC.

There have been a number of ACE-sponsored projects that have been useful for the work of clerkship directors: the statement of expectations for a clerkship director, the clerkship director handbook, a study of the influence of pharmaceutical reps on medical students, among others. The STFM Group on Predoctoral Education has had three representatives who serve 3 year terms and one representative from the STFM Board. For more information, contact Dana Greco.

Center for the History of Family Medicine Representative
This individual attends Center meetings and serves as an ambassador for the Center at STFM activities. This is a presidential appointment, and the term lasts 4 years. An announcement will go out over the listserves when we are looking to fill this position.

Wonca Representative
This individual represents STFM at Wonca meetings and serves a 3-year term, which can be renewed for a maximum of 3 years. We rely on the Group on Global Health to assist with nominations, and we do an open call in the STFM Messenger. This is an STFM Board appointment. 

Other Appointments
Other opportunities spring up from time to time for task oriented activities. For example, STFM had an opportunity to provide reviewers for the American Geriatrics Society project that was developing competencies related to geriatrics for internal medicine and family medicine residents. Five members of our Group on Geriatrics stepped up for this role. One way to help be selected for these activities is to make sure you are involved in the activities of your group AND make sure you have let STFM know what your educational interests are. We use this list to identify volunteers in key topic area. 

One-Time Leadership Roles

Annual Spring Conference Reviewers
The STFM Program Committee welcomes assistance from members who wish to serve as reviewers for the Annual Spring Conference submissions. For information, contact Ray Rosetta. 

Dine-out Leader
STFM is always looking for individuals who will serve as dine-out leaders at our conferences. The responsibilities are simple and straight forward. You just need to lead the group to the restaurant and make folks feel welcome. STFM coordinates all the restaurant logistics. Contact Dianna Azbill if you are interested.

STFM Messenger Education Column Author
This opportunity is available for individuals who want to share their ideas through a thought piece in the STFM Messenger. Contact Traci Nolte if you are interested. 

Community Service Project Coordinator
STFM would like to add a community service activity to all of our STFM conferences. If you have ideas and are willing to help plan and coordinate these activities, contact Ray Rosetta.