SMFM Privacy Policy

Who we are.
We are the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), an American federally charted, non-profit organization. The references in this privacy policy to “the Society,” “we,” “us,” or “our” are to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.  

The following privacy policy will explain how our organization uses the personal data we collect from you when you use our website. 

The data we Collect.
The Society collects data to further its mission, programs, operations, and services and provide the best experience for members and website visitors. Unless otherwise stated, the legal basis for processing all member and program data is contractual and based on your SMFM membership or becoming a registered user of the website.

Information we collect about you: When you visit our website, we will automatically collect the following information:

• technical information, including the Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet; your login information; browser type and version; time zone setting; browser plug-in types and versions; screen resolution, operating system, and platform; and
• information about your visit, including the full Uniform Resource Locators (URL), clickstream to, through, and from our site (including date and time), page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouse-overs) and methods used to browse away from the page.
• Service data is any data that you provide when using or participating in any of SMFM’s programs or events.
• Transactional data may include contact details, your credit card details, and the transaction details provided when you purchase goods and services on our website. The transaction data may be processed to supply the purchased goods and services and keep proper records of those transactions.

Information we receive from other sources: We also work closely with third-party advertising networks, analytics providers, hosting providers, and search information providers, from whom we may also receive general aggregated anonymous information about you.

We implement Google Analytics demographics and interest reporting features on our websites. These tools allow us to review anonymous data regarding the gender, age, and interests of website visitors and adapt our website content to reflect their needs better. Although this information is collected through your Google Ad settings, it is not provided to us in a personally identifiable format. This means we cannot identify information about you and will not try to figure it out. If we utilize this feature, you can opt out of Google Analytics for Display Advertising and customize Google Display Network ads using the Google Ad settings or the Google Analytics opt-in browser add-on.

We also use Google Analytics data to serve ads based on a user’s prior visits to our website. Site visitors may opt out by visiting opt out of seeing Google personalized ads or they may opt out of Google Analytics by visiting the Google Analytics opt-out page. Google has additional information available here about their Remarketing Privacy Guidelines, Policies and Restrictions.

When you become a member.
When you become a member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, we will use your personal information to process your membership application and provide you with your membership information and benefits.

A set of digital credentials (SMFM ID) is created, which allows us to authenticate your use of the SMFM website and applications. When you become a member, the following information will be collected from you: your name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, gender and racial identity, healthcare affiliation, educational history, and employment/academic institution details.

To complete your membership application, we share your personal information with payment processors involved in the membership application process.
We need to process your personal information to register you as a member and provide you with ongoing membership services and benefits as part of your membership contract with us.

Providing your data to others.
The Society may disclose your personal data to vendors, partners, or subcontractors (e.g., Cadmium, SmartBrief, Higher Logic, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, etc.) insofar as reasonably necessary to provide goods, services, or programs.

Our payment services providers handle financial transactions relating to our website and services. We will share transaction data with our payment services providers only to the extent necessary to process your payments, refund them, and deal with complaints and queries relating to such payments and refunds.

SMFM offers mailing list rentals (which excludes email addresses) to other organizations and corporate entities. SMFM does not share or sell email addresses or phone numbers with vendors, partners, or subcontractors. If you dislike sharing your mailing address, please contact Member Services at smfm@smfm.org.

We may disclose your data where such disclosure is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject or to protect your vital interests or the vital interests of another natural person. We may also disclose your personal data where such disclosure is necessary for establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims, whether in court proceedings or in an administrative or out-of-court procedure.

SMFM does not sell registration mailing lists for the SMFM Pregnancy Meeting™, live postgraduate course(s), workshop(s), or enduring products related to any live activity. Exhibitors or sponsors may receive registrant contact information (mailing address only) provided during registration as part of a sponsorship package. You may receive information on related products and services via postal services as part of this distribution. SMFM does not sell or share phone numbers and email addresses via these mailing lists.

When registering for the meeting, you may opt out of receiving any postal or electronic mail related to the Pregnancy Meeting. If you receive email or phone solicitations offering the sale of the Pregnancy Meeting mailing lists, please block the sender and report emails as spam to SMFM at events@smfm.org. SMFM will retain the personal data associated with your registration record for six years.

Using our products and/or services.
When you use our products and services, we collect information such as your name, address, email address, phone number, job title, employer/academic institution, individual demographic data, and payment details (if applicable).

We use this information to verify whether you have an active account or subscription with us and ensure you can access the services you have signed up to receive. We also use the information collected from you to improve our products and services and to provide customized content to you, including, for example, improved search and search results. Your information is shared with third-party vendors to optimize or enhance your access to our services.

We need to collect and use your personal information to carry out our contract.

Attending the Pregnancy Meeting, courses, or events.
When you attend one of our events (such as the Pregnancy Meeting), we will collect the following information from you: name, address, email address, phone number, employer/academic institution, individual demographic data, and payment details. If you are already a member and registered to attend an event, we will use the equivalent membership details we already have on file for you to confirm your booking, and you can update the data during the transaction.  The details we collect from you will include your name, address, payment, and other contact details. We need to use your personal information in this way to complete the booking contract between us.

We provide a delegate list to the organizations and other individuals who attend our events. We do this because our events provide a useful networking opportunity, and we have a legitimate interest in wanting to help build and develop the MFM community. You can object to us using your information in this way by contacting us using the information provided at the time of registration.

Signing up for our online education offerings.
When you attend one of our educational offerings (such as webinars, lectures, and live or on-demand courses), we will collect the following information from you: name, address, employer/academic institution, and payment details. If you are already a member and registered to attend a session or webinar, the membership details we have on file for you will be used to confirm your booking, and you can update the data during the transaction. The details we collect from you include your name, address, payment details, phone number, and email address. We need to use your personal information in this way to complete the booking contract between us.

When you contact us.
When you call or email with general queries or when we support your use of our products and services, we may also handle your personal information (your name, contact details, and the other details you provide to us) to provide the customer services you requested. This could be when you contact us to provide customer support for questions you may have about membership, subscriptions, payments, and other service-type inquiries or when you ask for our assistance troubleshooting issues with our products or services, explaining how our products or services work, or if you request information about new products and/or services. If you do not provide us with the personal information we request from you for customer service purposes, we may not be able to answer your queries fully.

When you have expressed an interest in the Society.
This section applies if you have opted in to receive marketing communications from us or have previously expressed an interest in the Society and have not opted out.

When you sign up for one of our online learning opportunities, participate in a survey, or register for an event, your registration details are used for marketing purposes to promote a relevant program or event that may interest you. We will handle your personal information (such as your name, email address, postal address, telephone number, job title, and employer/academic institution) to provide you with marketing communications in line with any preferences you have told us about.

When we send you marketing emails because you have opted to receive them, we rely on your consent to contact you for marketing purposes.

If you have not opted in and we send you marketing communications, we do this because we have a legitimate interest in promoting the success of the Society.

Every email we send you for marketing purposes will also contain instructions on unsubscribing from receiving them. You are not under any obligation to provide us with your data for marketing purposes.

You can tell us at any time that you do not want your personal information processed in this way by contacting us at smfm@smfm.org or, where relevant, by following the unsubscribe link shown in every marketing communication you receive from us.

Websites we link to.
Our site may occasionally contain links to and from the websites of our partner networks and affiliates.

Our site connects you to different websites.  If you follow a link to any of these websites or use our services, please note that you have left our site, and these websites have their privacy policies.

We do not accept any responsibility or liability for these policies or websites.  Please check their policies before you submit any personal information to these websites.

Cookies.
Our site uses cookies to distinguish you from other users. This helps us provide you with a good experience when you browse our site and allows us to improve it. By continuing to browse the site, you agree to our use of cookies.

A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or hard drive. We only use (and store) non-essential cookies on your browser or hard drive if you provide your consent.

We use cookies that are essential in allowing users access to our websites and their features. We use cookies to collect information about how visitors use our website – the information is used to optimize and improve navigation. We use cookies to gather information from users on social media and other platforms.  These cookies are used to measure advertising effectiveness and target content that fits users' interests. We use cookies that enable us to learn more about the goods and services others provide that interest you and are related to goods and services that we provide after you leave our website. This cookie enables us to improve our value proposition to you should you return.

Unless otherwise stated, we will combine the information you provide with information we collect about you.

Please note that third parties (including, for example, advertising networks and providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we do not have any control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies.

You can block cookies by activating the settings on your browser that allow you to refuse the settings for all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies), you may not be able to access all or parts of our site.

Data storage.
All information you provide to us is stored on our secure servers or those of our third-party data storage providers. Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password that enables you to access certain parts of our site, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential. You must not share your password with anyone.

We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which we collected it, including satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of your data, the purposes for which we process your data, and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.

If you no longer wish to receive marketing communications from us, we will opt you out of our communications.

In some circumstances, we may anonymize your personal data (so that it can no longer be associated with you) for research, product development or improvement, or statistical purposes. In this case, we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you.

Your right to object under data protection laws.
The Society would like to make sure you are fully aware of all your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following:

• The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your data. A service fee will be required.
• The right to rectification—You have the right to request that SMFM correct any inaccurate information and complete it.
• The right to erasure – You have the right to request that SMFM erase your data under certain conditions.
• The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that SMFM restrict the processing of your data under certain conditions.
• The right to data portability – You have the right to request that SMFM transfer the data we have collected to another organization or directly to you under certain conditions.

Depending on your location, you may have various rights under the data protection laws, which you can exercise by contacting the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine by mail at PO Box 420016 Washington, DC 20042 or by email at smfm@smfm.org. 

Privacy policy changes.
Any changes we make to our privacy policy in the future will be posted on this page. Please check back frequently for updates. For any data protection or privacy issues, please email us at smfm@smfm.org.

Contact us.
If you have any questions about the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s privacy policy or the data we hold on to, or you would like to exercise one of your data protection rights, please contact us.
Email: smfm@smfm.org
Mail: PO Box 420016 Washington, DC 20042-0016

                                                      This policy was last updated on March 14, 2024.