Mission and Vision
Who We Are
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), based in Washington, DC, is dedicated to advancing optimal and equitable perinatal outcomes for all people who desire or experience pregnancy. The Society represents over 6,500 members and serves as the voice for clinicians and researchers with expertise in high-risk pregnancy care. Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) subspecialist physicians comprise our core membership. SMFM members also include physicians in related disciplines, scientists, nurses, genetic counselors, ultrasound technicians, and other clinicians working toward optimal and equitable perinatal outcomes.
What is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Subspecialist?
MFM subspecialists are obstetrician-gynecologists who have completed additional years of formal post-residency training in managing high-risk pregnancies and have received board certification in MFM through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
What is a High-Risk Pregnancy?
High-risk pregnancies compromise the health or life of a pregnant person or fetus. Examples include people with preexisting health conditions (such as diabetes, lupus, or heart disease) who become pregnant or who develop an acute condition in pregnancy, including an infectious disease. Having a preterm birth or other complication in a previous pregnancy, carrying more than one fetus, or learning there is a birth defect or genetic condition affecting the fetus are also considered high-risk pregnancies. MFMs work to reduce the likelihood that pregnancy complications will permanently compromise the health or life of their patients.
Core Mission and Offerings
As experts in maternal-fetal medicine, SMFM and its members lead the evidence-based practice of high-risk pregnancy care by providing education, promoting research, and engaging in advocacy.
- Education and Clinical Guidance – SMFM offers a range of educational resources for clinicians specializing in high-risk pregnancies. These include live and on-demand webinars, hands-on workshops, online courses, and the Pregnancy MeetingTM, the centerpiece of SMFMs' work, which attracts more than 3,000 scientists and clinicians globally and showcases the latest research and clinical advancements. SMFM also provides accredited medical education, clinical guidelines, and mentorship opportunities to support professional growth and enhance patient care. SMFM also hosts a biannual Global Congress, centered on clinical best practices and the latest research from around the world.
- Research – SMFM supports numerous research initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for high-risk pregnancies through research training, mentorship programs, and evidence-based clinical guidelines. Additionally, SMFM publishes PREGNANCY, an open-access journal that publishes innovative research, ensuring that the latest scientific advancements are freely available to the global maternal-fetal medicine community.
- Advocacy – SMFM advocates for and promotes the interests of pregnant people and its MFM members at all levels of government and to other stakeholders involved in supporting pregnancy care. SMFM’s advocacy agenda and related work are focused on reducing health disparities, eliminating preventable maternal mortality, and ensuring that everyone has access to the full range of reproductive health care services, including abortion care.
Governance
SMFM, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization founded in 1977, is governed by a 22-member Board of Directors. The organization has more than 20 volunteer committees, including the Publications Committee, Health Policy and Advocacy Committee, Clinical Education Committee, and many others, each of which helps to shape patient care and the policies that impact MFM practice.