CAFM Educational Research Alliance (CERA)

CERA Steering Committee

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

ADFM Representative
Megan Mahoney, MD, MBA 
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
John Epling, Jr, MD, MSEd 
Professor
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Roanoke, VA

Clerkship Survey Director
Amanda Kost, MD (Second term, March 2021-2026)
Professor
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

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
Grace Shih, MD, MAS (Second term, March 2024-2026)
WWAMI FMRN Director
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

 

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

Contact Us

 

11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway

Leawood, KS 66211

(800) 274-7928

stfmoffice@stfm.org 

 

 

Events

May 30, 2025, 12 pm CDT/1 pm EDT: Webinar: Ethical Use of AI in the Family Medicine Clinic

July 21, 2025, 12 pm CDT/1 pm EDT: Equitable Advisors Webinar: "Strategies for Pushing Past Your First $1 Million"

September 8–10, 2025: The 2025 STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement

Due Dates

May 23, 2025: Applications for Leadership Through Scholarship Fellowship

May 23, 2025: Applications to Serve on the STFM Conference on Practice & Quality Improvement Steering Committee Due

June 10, 2025: Presentation Submissions for the 2026 Conference on Medical Student Education

June 17, 2025: Call for Proposals for CERA Family Medicine General Membership Survey

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.