STFM ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE FEATURES A DIVERSE RESEARCH PROGRAM OF EVENTS

James Gill

doi:10.1370/afm.806

The STFM research committee is assembling a variety of research-related activities for the STFM Annual Spring Conference, which will be held April 30 to May 4, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland.

STFM will feature presentations of original research, including forums and a research poster fair, including completed projects and fellows’, residents’, and students’ works in progress.

Our 2 distinguished original research papers will be presented in a separate forum, and will describe screening questions to predict limited health literacy and declining trends in the provision of prenatal care by family physicians.

In addition to our focus on original research, this year we will also focus on teaching research and evaluation methods that are particularly relevant for family medicine residents and students, such as methods for quality improvement evaluation. The goal is to provide skills and tools that are essential for family physicians who will not necessarily become career researchers, and to assist residency programs with fulfilling the RRC requirements for research and scholarly activity. This component will feature 4 skill-building sessions on teaching research in residency, using electronic health records for quality improvement research, teaching rigorous evaluation methods for educational programs, and designing for dissemination: quality improvement.

The STFM Annual Spring Conference also provides an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of family medicine researchers. The research committee reviewed original research papers published by STFM members during the preceding academic year and selection of a Best Research Award will be announced in Baltimore. We will also announce the winner of the Curtis G. Hames Research Award, presented annually in recognition of an outstanding career of contributions to family medicine research. The presentations by the Hames Award winner and the STFM Best Paper Award winner are highlights of the annual meeting. There will also be an AAFP Resident Scholar Winners Session.

Also among the highlights this year will be the research-themed plenary session: “Something You Somehow Haven’t To Deserve: A Medical Home For Every American” will be delivered by John Saultz, MD, from Oregon Health and Science University. This presentation will review what is known about the medical home concept and will suggest directions for research and education in family medicine that can bring clarity to the delivery system redesign process. Dr Saultz will explain how creating a science around the ideal design of a medical home can become the organizing theoretical framework for the future of our discipline.

There will be more than 70 presentations of original research at the STFM Annual Spring Conference, as well as skill-building sessions geared toward teachers of residents and medical students. Be a part of this great research exchange by registering for the conference today. Visit http://www.stfm.org for complete conference information and to register online.

Please help to support and promote research within our discipline by attending and contributing to some of these sessions. The committee also welcomes feedback on the research program and suggestions for future presentations. Best of luck choosing among all the possible presentations, and enjoy the meeting!