PUBLICATIONS & RESEARCH

CAFM Educational Research Alliance (CERA)

CERA, the CAFM Educational Research Alliance, is a framework to focus and support medical education research. The mission of CERA is to set within family medicine a standard for medical education research that is rigorous and generalizable. Find information about CERA survey dates for the year, the impact of CERA, how to participate, and some frequently asked questions about surveys and data.

SUBMIT FOR OPEN CALLS FOR PROPOSALS

Are Any CERA Surveys Open for Calls for Proposals?

CERA Family Medicine General Membership Survey (Closed)

CERA, the CAFM Educational Research Alliance, is not accepting proposals for questions for a survey of the membership of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, North American Primary Care Research Group, Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, and Association of Departments of Family Medicine.The survey audience can be the entire membership or a subset of members, but not a subset that is targeted in other CERA surveys (ie, program directors, clerkship directors, or department chairs). This survey does not include students or residents.The survey collects demographic information in addition to submitted questions. Priority is given to proposals that are likely to result in high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. Furthermore, proposals are encouraged to have a focus on health equity. Read what you need to know before applying.The historical acceptance rate for the General Membership survey is 47%.

CERA Family Medicine Department Chairs Survey (Closed)

CERA, the CAFM Educational Research Alliance, is not accepting proposals at this time for questions for a survey of family medicine department chairs. The survey, which is sent to nearly 200 department chairs, collects demographic information in addition to submitted questions. Priority is given to proposals that are likely to result in high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. Read what you need to know before applying.The historical acceptance rate for the CERA Chair Survey is 59%.

CERA Family Medicine Program Directors Survey (Closed)

CERA, the CAFM Educational Research Alliance, is not accepting proposals at this time for questions for a survey of family medicine program directors.The survey, which is sent to more than 700 program directors, collects demographic information in addition to submitted questions. Priority is given to proposals that are likely to result in high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. Read what you need to know before applying.The historical acceptance rate for the CERA Program Director Survey is 25%.

CERA Family Medicine Clerkship Directors Survey (Closed)

CERA, the CAFM Educational Research Alliance, is not accepting proposals at this time for questions for a survey of family medicine clerkship directors.The survey, which is sent to nearly 170 clerkship directors, collects demographic information in addition to submitted questions. Priority is given to proposals that are likely to result in high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. Read what you need to know before applying.You must also check the list of recently studied topics prior to submitting a proposal to ensure your questions have not already been included in a recent survey. A list of recent Clerkship Director Survey Topics can be downloaded here.

2027 Survey Schedule

Program Directors
  • Call for Proposals: 12/7/26–1/5/27
  • Survey Dates: 4/20/27–5/21/27
Department Chairs
  • Call for Proposals: 1/25/27–2/23/27
  • Survey Dates: 6/8/27–7/9/27
Clerkship Directors
  • Call for Proposals: 3/22/27–4/20/27
  • Survey Dates: 8/3/27–9/3/27
General Membership
  • Call for Proposals: 5/17/27–6/15/27
  • Survey Dates: 9/28/27–10/29/27
Program Directors
  • Call for Proposals: 6/21/27–7/20/27
  • Survey Dates: 11/2/27–12/3/27

Survey Schedule

2026 Survey Dates
Program Directors
Call for Proposals: 12/8/25–1/6/26
Survey Dates: 4/21/26–5/22/26
Clerkship Directors
Call for Proposals: 1/26/26–2/24/26
Survey Dates: 6/9/26–7/10/26
Department Chairs
Call for Proposals: 3/23/26–4/21/26
Survey Dates: 8/4/26–9/4/26
General Membership
Call for Proposals: 5/18/26–6/16/26
Survey Dates: 9/29/26–10/30/26
Program Directors
Call for Proposals: 6/22/26–7/21/26
Survey Dates: 11/3/26–12/4/26

About CERA

CERA, the CAFM Educational Research Alliance, is a framework to focus and support medical education research. CERA conducts approximately five surveys per year of:
  • Family medicine residency directors (surveyed twice per year)
  • Clerkship directors
  • Department chairs
  • General membership, including subsets of members as selected by applicants
  • Family medicine residents
  • Medical students

CERA Mission and Vision

The mission of CERA is to:
  • Produce rigorous and generalizable medical education research
  • Facilitate collaboration among medical education researchers
  • Provide training and mentorship in educational research methods
  • Ensure that the work of CERA reflects and supports efforts to address equity, diversity, and antiracism
Vision: Excellent family medicine education

How CERA Works

CERA operates through a collaborative research model that brings together family medicine educators and researchers. Our process includes:
  • Regular calls for research proposals from STFM, ADFM, AFMRD, and NAPCRG members
  • Peer review of submitted proposals by expert panels
  • Survey development and administration using validated research methods
  • Data collection from targeted populations within family medicine
  • Analysis and dissemination of findings through publications and presentations
  • Mentorship opportunities for new researchers in educational research methods
Researchers whose questions are included in the survey have exclusive access to their portion of the survey results for 90 days. After the 90 days, the data is added to the CERA data repository.Proposals are accepted from members of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, Association of Departments of Family Medicine and/or North American Primary Care Research Group. You must have an STFM, ADFM, or NAPCRG account to log into the submission system (AFMRD members can create a free account).Once projects are approved, an experienced research mentor joins each project team to help refine questions, facilitate analysis, and prepare and submit manuscripts. Because of their extensive involvement, mentors are included as authors on published papers/presentations.

Collaborative Research

450+ Research Outcomes and Growing

CERA's streamlined collaborative process has produced remarkable results: 200+ published manuscripts and 250+ scholarly presentations that advance family medicine education across four major organizations.

Proposal Review Survey Publication
0

Published Papers

0

Completed Presentations

Testimonials

"We used the tenure question from all 11 program director surveys to look at the mean and median for 2011–2017. We are so grateful for this data and the CERA survey and the sharing. This is a priority topic for AFMRD and the data was so helpful."

Steven Brown, MD
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix Family Medicine Residency

"Wow! What a job to all. Thank you so very much for letting me be a part of this. I have learned so much from the process and I am just amazed at the strengths of all involved from the amazing writing, thoughts, statistical resources, and video conferences. I am really excited at our findings and hope it generates lots of thoughtful consideration. Thank you again so much. Maybe I will get to meet you all someday :)."

CERA Researcher
Family Medicine Education

Turn Your Research Ideas Into Reality

Join the collaborative network that has produced more than 200 published manuscripts and more than 250 scholarly presentations. CERA provides the infrastructure, peer review, and support to transform your educational research concepts into impactful publications.

Questions about getting started with CERA? Sam Grammer can guide you through the process and help you find the right opportunity.

sgrammer@stfm.org

Submit a CERA Proposal

Share your research idea with our collaborative network and get expert peer review.

Become a Research Mentor

Help guide potential researchers through the CERA process.

Access Past Survey Data

Explore our extensive database of completed research and survey results.

Frequently Asked Questions About CERA

Who Can Submit Proposals for CERA Surveys?

Proposals are accepted from members of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, Association of Departments of Family Medicine and/or North American Primary Care Research Group. You must have an STFM, ADFM, or NAPCRG account to log into the submission system (AFMRD members can create a free account).

How and When Are Mentors Assigned?

Once projects are approved, an experienced research mentor joins each project team to help refine questions, facilitate analysis, and prepare and submit manuscripts. Because of their extensive involvement, mentors are included as authors on published papers/presentations.

How Long Do Researchers Whose Proposals Were Included in the Survey Have Exclusive Access to the Data?

Researchers whose questions are included in the survey have exclusive access to their portion of the survey results for 90 days. After the 90 days, the data is added to the CERA data repository.

Who can access this database and perform secondary analysis on the data?

Any member of one of the CAFM organizations (ADFM, AFMRD, NAPCRG, STFM) can access the CERA clearinghouse and the data contained in it.

How do I perform secondary analysis on this data?

The best way to begin a secondary analysis is to look at the questions that were asked in any one of the surveys. Then, develop an interesting research question that could be answered by combining two or more of the questions in a manner that is different than the original authors intended. Download the Excel spreadsheet and perform any data cleaning that is necessary. It is recommended you keep clear notes on any data manipulation you perform so that you can recreate it later. Perform your statistical analysis and interpret the results. If those results would be of interest to other medical educators, present your findings at a medical conference or publish them in the peer-reviewed medical literature.

Can I combine questions from two different surveys?

Because the data has been kept anonymous, it is not possible to combine the results of two surveys together. When questions have been repeated in multiple surveys, it is possible to look at a trend over time. For instance, the percentage of program directors answering the surveys that are female.

Can I get the identification of the respondents?

The CERA surveys are done anonymously so it is not possible to get the identification of the respondents.

How do I know if someone else has already started working on my question?

CERA does not require a CAFM member who wants to access the data clearinghouse to submit their research hypothesis or to notify CERA when they download data. Therefore, there is no guaranteed method to know whether someone else has thought of asking your exact question. CERA strongly recommends that you do a thorough literature search prior to starting your project to make sure your question has not already been asked and answered.

Which IRB is the IRB of record for the original study?

All CERA surveys to date have been approved through the AAFP Institutional Review Board.

Do I need to get IRB permission before performing secondary data analysis?

This will vary by institution. CERA strongly recommends that you check with your local IRB to determine what, if any, IRB application will be required for your project.

What were the methods of the original study?

All CERA surveys to date have used very similar methods, which have been published. The most efficient way to cite the original methods is to include the following among your citations:Seehusen DA, Mainous AG 3rd, Chessman AW. Creating a Centralized Infrastructure to Facilitate Medical Education Research. Ann Fam Med. 2018 May;16(3):257-260. doi: 10.1370/afm.2228. PMID:29760031

Who can I contact if I have questions about CERA, the clearinghouse, or secondary analysis of this data?

Contact Sam Grammer at sgrammer@stfm.org.

CERA Steering Committee and Founding Members

CERA Steering Committee
CERA Founding Members

CERA Steering Committee

CERA Chair
Tiffany Ho, MD, MPH (First term, May 2025–2027)
Associate Professor
University of Utah Department of Family and Preventive Medicine 
Salt Lake City, UT

ADFM Representative
Alexis Reedy-Cooper, MD, MPH
Chair
University of California, San Francisco 

NAPCRG Representative
Shelley Ross, PhD 
Professor
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AL, Canada

AFMRD Representative
Santina Wheat, MD, MPH
Program Director
Northwestern Family Medicine Residency Erie Humboldt Park
Chicago, IL

ABFM Representative
Lars Peterson, MD, PhD
Vice President of Research, ABFM
Lexington, KY

Robert Graham Center Representative
Alison Huffstetler, MD
Robert Graham Center
Washington, DC

STFM Representative
Vijay Singh, MD, MPH, MS
Clinical Associate Professor
Departments of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine,
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, MI 

Clerkship Survey Director
Kento Sonoda, MD (First term, March 2026–2028)
Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Louis University 
St Louis, MO

Residency Program Director Survey Director
Alexis Reedy-Cooper, MD, MPH (First term, May 2025–2027)
Program Director
Penn State Health St Joseph Family Medicine Residency
Elizabethtown, PA

Associate Residency Program Director Survey Director
KrisEmily McCrory, MD, MS (First term, May 2025–2027)
Associate Program Director
Cheshire Medical Center-Dartmouth Health Family Medicine Residency Program
Keene, NH

General Membership Survey Director
Areeba Zain, MD, MPH (First term, May 2025–2027)
Core Faculty
Baptist Health Family Medicine Residency Program
Montgomery, AL

Mentor Director
Joel Heidelbaugh, MD (First term, 2026–2028)
Departments of Family Medicine and Urology, University of Michigan
Ypsilanti Health Center
Ypsilanti, MI

CERA Scholarship Workgroup Chair 
Bryce Ringwald, MD 
Associate Academic Program Director
The Ohio State University College of Medicine Community Medicine Track
Spencerville, OH

CERA Founding Members

  • Arch ‘Chip’ Mainous, PhD, CERA co-chair, Medical University of South Carolina
  • Dean Seehusen, MD, MPH, CERA co-chair, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
  • Alec Chessman, MD, Medical University of South Carolina
  • Alison Dobbie, MD, Ross University, North Brunswick
  • Kelly Everard, PhD, St. Louis University
  • John Saultz, MD, Oregon Health & Science University
  • George Bergus, MD, MAEd, University of Iowa
  • Tammy Chang, MD, MPH, University of Michigan
  • Randall Clinch, DO, MS, Wake Forest University
  • Betsy Jones, EdD, Texas Tech University HSC
  • Steve Ratcliffe, MD, Lancaster Family Medicine Residency
  • Kiran Shokar, MA, MD, MPH, Texas Tech University HSC
  • Ian Bennett, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
  • Mimi Tarn, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

Questions?

If you have questions about CERA, contact Sam Grammer at the email link below.

EMAIL QUESTIONS

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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

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June 17, 2026: Submit to Present at 2027 STFM Conference on Medical Student Education

June 17, 2026: Apply for STFM Foundation Student Scholarship

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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.

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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.

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The Chat Assistant:

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STFM AI Assistant
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