FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

STFM Online Courses and Certificate Programs

Developed in collaboration with STFM members, STFM’s online courses and certificate programs include interactive modules, reflective activities, readings, and video interviews with experienced faculty. See individual courses for enrollment fees and member discounts.

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STFM Certificate Programs

Residency Faculty Fundamentals Certificate Program

This year-long certificate program includes 14 self-led online courses that provide foundational training for residency faculty. Each of the courses includes interactive modules, readings, video interviews, and assignments. Faculty instructors provide feedback on select assignments. 35.00 CME. The price for members is $999.

Family Medicine POCUS Educator's Certificate Program

The yearlong STFM FM Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Educator's Certificate Program trains family medicine residency faculty to serve as their program’s POCUS champion with the skills to train family medicine residents how to effectively use POCUS. The registration fee for the STFM FM POCUS Educator's Certificate Program is $4500.

STFM Online Course Catalog

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Primary Care Curriculum

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (Al/ML) are transforming primary care, and learners want to participate in the revolution. This 5-module curriculum aims to equip learners with the skills needed to be engaged stakeholders, use Al/ML in their practice, and ensure responsible and ethical use of Al/ML. This course is free.

Teach POCUS

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help physicians make decisions at the bedside, decrease time to diagnosis, and better triage patients who need subspecialty care. This series of 10 online modules provides the background and understanding you need to start or advance POCUS training at your program. This course is free for members.

Advocacy Course

Take STFM's free Advocacy Course and learn to educate legislators on the value of family medicine. Your advocacy efforts encourage decision-makers at every level to support expansion of a well-trained family medicine workforce. This course has been taken by over 3000 family medicine educators, students, and residents. This course is free.

Understanding Health Systems

Advocating Within Your Health System will help you advocate for business-based solutions that incorporate the needs of medical education and family medicine. Analyzing Health Systems Data shows you how to use data to identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve the quality of care, and increase the efficiency of care delivery. Includes many additional free resources. This course is free.

Giving Feedback

A core skill for teaching future family physicians, giving feedback can be challenging. This two-part online course introduces you to the principles of giving quality feedback, then takes you to the next level by showing you when to give feedback, where, and what models you can use. This course is $99 to enroll.

Time Management for Family Medicine Educators

Family medicine educators have multiple roles with unique priorities and competing to-do lists. This 1-hour online course introduces practical, proven methods to help you manage time in all your roles, and includes a Time Management Toolkit to help you meet daily, weekly, and yearly goals. This course is $99 to enroll.

URM Leadership Pathways in Academic Medicine

Every pathway to leadership is unique. In this free online course, underrepresented in medicine (URM) faculty will learn about trajectories to academic leadership within a variety of institutions. Access recorded advice from experienced faculty and assignments that will build your leadership skills. This course is free.

Mentoring in Medicine

These five, 15-minute video modules for mentors in academic medicine introduce you to the basics of mentorship, then walk you through the journey of mentoring both faculty and students. Topics include the complexities of mentoring, the unique needs of mentees from historically marginalized groups, and difficult conversations. This course is free.

Faculty Skills Course

The Faculty Skills Course includes four modules that provide in-depth, fully online training in fundamental skills you'll need as a faculty member, including time management, incorporating learners into your clinical workflow, and writing for academic publication. This course is $299 for members.

Intro to Medical Student Education

Learn the nuts and bolts of medical student education with four modules designed to help you advance your career, including advising medical students, LCME and COCA requirements, and assessment and evaluation. This course is $299 for members.

Leading Change

This 3-hour course shows you how to facilitate change at every level. Use the downloadable guidebook to your change project from start to finish. You’ll learn how to assess the need for change, develop a plan for change, and provide successful change leadership. It includes 18 group activities for change teams. This course is free.

Telemedicine Curriculum

Give your learners the knowledge and skills they need to conduct effective, patient-centered telemedicine visits. Resources include guidance to help teaching clinicians integrate telemedicine topics into courses, clerkships, residency curricula, and national telemedicine curriculum for students and family medicine residents. This course is free for members

Contact Us

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

January 21, 2026, 1 pm Eastern: GME Leadership Webinar Series: "Staying In: What Sustains GME Leaders Through the Long Haul"

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

Due Dates

January 5, 2026: Fellows, Residents, and Students Submit Proposals to Present at 2026 STFM Annual Spring Conference

January 9, 2026: Apply to Be Scholarship Leader for New Faculty Scholars Program

January 15, 2026: Family Medicine Call for Papers: Theme Issue on Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Family Medicine Education

January 15, 2026: Apply for POCUS Educator's Certificate Program

January 27, 2026: Call for Proposals to Present at 2026 STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement

February 16, 2026: Apply for Medical Editing Fellowship

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

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

Useful Links

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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.