News

Family Medicine Call for Papers: Theme Issue on Scope of Practice in Family Medicine

Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026

September 19, 2025—Family Medicine is pleased to announce a Call for Papers: Scope of Practice in Family Medicine.

Family Medicine seeks submissions for a theme issue on Exploring the scope of practice in family medicine. Since its inception, family medicine has been a specialty of generalists. Over the last 2 decades, though, many family physicians have been narrowing their scope of practice to focus on outpatient care, or hospitalist medicine, for example. The decision of whether to practice maternity care, provide care of children, or perform certain procedures is an individual one, but stimulates conversation within the discipline. This theme issue will focus on many of these debates. The editors encourage authors to discuss not only what family physicians do in
practice, but how they practice and in what settings.

Submission Topics

For this theme issue, Family Medicine welcomes original research papers and brief reports about educational interventions or observational studies looking at different aspects of the scope of practice. We also welcome commentaries (with editor approval) and narratives related to this topic. 

Potential topic areas include, but are not limited to:

  • Decisions to include maternity care or hospital medicine in practice
  • Outpatient-only practices
  • The lifecycle of a family physician (different scope based on life stage for instance)
  • Ways that the scope of practice is limited by external factors (getting privileges, changes in government regulations, community needs, etc.)
  • Decisions about office-based addiction treatment, community engagement, etc.
  • Inclusion of behavioral health into practice
  • Point/counterpoint papers about inclusion of specific procedures into practice (i.e. colonoscopy, or cesarean sections)
  • Structured self-reflection narratives describing one aspect of practice or a practice change
  • How educational opportunities (with all levels of learners) are incorporated into your practice?
  • How your experience with family medicine continues the work of the discipline as “counter culture”?

Authors should follow the author guidelines provided on the Family Medicine journal website: https://journals.stfm.org/familymedicine/.

How to Submit

Submit using Family Medicine's Online Manuscript Submission System. The deadline to submit is March 1, 2026.

Any questions, email fmeditor@stfm.org.

Contact Us

 

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

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

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

November 1, 2025: Apply for Behavioral Science/Family Systems Educator Fellowship

November 8, 2025: Nominations due for the following awards: Curtis G. Hames Research Award and STFM Research Paper of the Year Award

November 14, 2025: Apply for Emerging Leaders Fellowship

Useful Links

Ask a Question
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.