URM Initiative Work Groups

These four work groups are creating projects to meet the aims of the Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) Initiative.

The following four work groups, under the direction of an Oversight Committee, are creating projects to meet the aims of the Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) Initiative.The aims are to: increase the percentage of URM family medicine faculty, and increase the number of solutions-focused, adaptable URM leaders within and across our health care system.

The Four Work Groups

URM Faculty Pipeline Work Group
URM Scholarship Work Group
URM Mentorship Work Group
URM Leadership Work Group

URM Faculty Pipeline Work Group

  • Goal: Increase the percentage of URM students and URM family medicine residents with an interest in teaching
  • Goal: Increase the percentage of URM family medicine faculty
  • Goal: Increase the percentage of URM community preceptors who receive resources to improve their teaching skills


Maili Velez-Dalla Tor, MD, Work Group Leader
Emanate Health FM Residency, West Covina, CA

Jeffrey Arroyo, MD
University of California, Irvine Family Medicine Residency

Marco Angulo, MD, MA
AltaMed Family Medicine Residency

Mimo Rose Lemdja, MD
UAMS South Regional Campus in Magnolia, AR

Ebony Whisenant, MD
ATSU-SOMA/AT Still University – School of Osteopathic Medicine (Arizona)

Emily Walters, Project Manager
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)

URM Scholarship Work Group

  • Goal: Increase the percentage of URM students, residents, and faculty who have the skills to produce scholarly research

Cesar A. Gonzalez, PhD, LP, ABPP , Work Group Leader
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Angela Antonikowski, PhD, MA
Albany Medical College

Magdalena Pasarica MD, PhD
University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Jay-Sheree Allen, MD
CentraCare Health, Long Prairie, MN

Tyson Pankey, PhD, MPH
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Mindy Householder, Project Manager
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Foundation

URM Mentorship Work Group

  • Goal: Create opportunities for developing meaningful relationships that lead to career advancement and leadership
  • Goal: Develop mentors who have the skills to help URM students, residents, and faculty improve resiliency, satisfaction, and retention


Kathryn Fraser, PhD, Work Group Leader
Halifax Medical Center Family Medicine Residency, Daytona Beach, FL

Syeachia N. Dennis, MD, MPH
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Jessica Guh, MD
Swedish Family Medicine Residency Cherry Hill

Cynthia Kim, LCSW-R
Mid-Hudson Family Medicine Residency Program
Institute for Family Health

George W. Saba, PhD
UCSF/SFGH Family Medicine Residency Program

Emily Walters, STFM Project Manager
Director of Education & Special Projects
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)

URM Leadership Work Group

  • Goal: Raise awareness of the structural barriers to URM achievement
  • Goal: Increase the percentage of URM family medicine faculty in leadership positions


Elizabeth H. Naumburg, MD, Work Group Leader
University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY

Andrea Anderson, MD
George Washington University School of Medicine

Natalia Galarza, MD
Yuma Regional Medical Center FMR

Cleveland Piggott, MD, MPH
University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine

Angela Echiverri, MD, MPH
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine

Mary Theobald, Project Manager
Chief of Strategy and Innovation
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)

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Events

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

February 4, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Rethinking Bias in AI – Why Algorithmic Bias is Only the Tip of the Iceberg"

February 9, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Debt Management for Doctors" in Partnership With Equitable Advisors

March 11, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: GME Leadership Webinar Series: "The Human Side of Leadership: Managing People and Ourselves"

March 31, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Integrity, Identity, and Inclusion: Reframing Professionalism for a New Era"

May 2–6, 2026: STFM Annual Spring Conference

May 13, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: GME Leadership Webinar Series: "Defining Success on Your Own Terms"

June 10, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: Webinar: "Staying at the Table: Leading for Health Equity While Protecting Your Peace"

August 31–September 2, 2026: STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement

Deadlines

January 30, 2026: Family Medicine Call for Papers: Theme Issue on Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Family Medicine Education

February 16, 2026: Apply for Medical Editing Fellowship

February 16, 2026: Apply to Be Faculty for POCUS Educator's Certificate Program

February 16, 2026: Entries Due for Poetry & Prose Contest

February 19, 2026: Apply for CERA Fellowship

February 23, 2026: Representative to Annals of Family Medicine Board of Directors

February 24, 2026: Apply to Be Faculty for MSEDI Fellowship

February 24, 2026: Call for Proposals for CERA Family Medicine Clerkship Directors Survey

February 27, 2026: Apply to Be Scholarly Project Mentor for Behavioral Science/Family Systems Educator Fellowship

February 28, 2026: Apply for STFM Advocacy Scholarship for New Faculty

March 1, 2026: Family Medicine Call for Papers: Theme Issue on Scope of Practice in Family Medicine

March 19, 2026: Representative to Council of Faculty and Academic Societies (CFAS)

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