Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) is a United States-based not-for-profit professional organization founded in 1977 for physicians and other professionals working in maternal-fetal medicine. Its members focus on pregnancies that involve elevated risks to the pregnant patient, fetus, or newborn, and on the diagnosis, prevention, and management of complex maternal and fetal conditions. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has more than 5,000 members according to the referenced Wikipedia entry. Maternal-fetal medicine physicians are obstetricians and gynecologists who complete additional subspecialty training, generally involving two to three further years of education and clinical preparation. They are commonly regarded as high-risk pregnancy specialists and may provide consultation, care coordination, fetal assessment, prenatal diagnosis, and management of serious maternal or fetal disease. SMFM represents this professional field rather than operating as a conventional consumer healthcare brand, hospital network, or commercial medical-products company. The society's principal activities are education, research promotion, professional development, clinical knowledge dissemination, and advocacy. Through these functions, it supports the clinical practice of maternal-fetal medicine and seeks to improve outcomes for pregnant people, fetuses, and newborns. Its work is directed toward evidence-informed care and the development and communication of specialist knowledge in areas such as high-risk pregnancy, fetal conditions, maternal disease, perinatal complications, and related obstetric care. SMFM describes its mission as supporting clinical practice by providing education, promoting research, and engaging in advocacy to optimize equitable outcomes for all people who desire or experience pregnancy. Its stated vision is the advancement of optimal and equitable perinatal outcomes. The society's current strategic framework, revised with membership feedback in 2022, is organized around advocacy and partnerships; member engagement and support; and knowledge, education, and research. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are identified as cross-cutting principles within those areas. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by professional staff. For the 2025–2026 term, the listed leadership includes President Sindhu Srinivas, President-Elect Alison Cahill, Immediate Past President Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Secretary-Treasurer Joseph R. Biggio Jr., Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Blair Wylie, and Chief Executive Officer Christina Wurster. As a professional society, SMFM's influence is primarily institutional and clinical: it convenes specialists, supports education and research, contributes to policy and advocacy discussions, and helps shape the knowledge environment in which maternal-fetal medicine is practiced.

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine was established in 1977 as a professional organization for specialists in maternal-fetal medicine. Its creation reflected the development of maternal-fetal medicine as a distinct subspecialty within obstetrics and gynecology, focused on pregnancies with significant maternal, fetal, or perinatal risk. Physicians in this field receive additional training after standard obstetrics and gynecology preparation and address complex clinical situations requiring advanced assessment and management. Over time, SMFM developed as a national professional society serving clinicians, researchers, educators, and other participants in the maternal-fetal medicine community. Its role has centered on strengthening specialist practice through education, research support, professional exchange, and advocacy. Rather than functioning as a direct-care provider or commercial healthcare company, the society operates as an institution that helps build and communicate the knowledge base used by maternal-fetal medicine professionals. The society's work encompasses the promotion of research into maternal and fetal health, dissemination of clinical knowledge, professional education, and engagement with public-policy and healthcare stakeholders. These activities support the broader objective of improving maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes, particularly in circumstances involving high-risk pregnancy. SMFM's membership has grown to more than 5,000 members according to the referenced Wikipedia material, and its headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. In 2022, following feedback from its membership, the SMFM Board of Directors revised the organization's vision, mission, and strategic plan. The resulting three-year strategic framework emphasized three connected areas: advocacy and partnerships; member engagement and support; and knowledge, education, and research. Diversity, equity, and inclusion were incorporated as central principles across the framework rather than treated as a separate activity. The updated mission emphasizes support for clinical practice, education, research, advocacy, and equitable outcomes for all people who desire or experience pregnancy. The organization continues to be governed by a Board of Directors and operated with support from professional staff. Its 2025–2026 leadership structure lists Sindhu Srinivas as president, Alison Cahill as president-elect, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman as immediate past president, Joseph R. Biggio Jr. as secretary-treasurer, Blair Wylie as assistant secretary-treasurer, and Christina Wurster as chief executive officer serving ex officio. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate commercial parent company, ownership group, stock listing, or corporate product portfolio for SMFM.

• 2025

  2025–2026 board leadership announced

  [2]Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine official websitesmfm.org

  The listed 2025–2026 Board of Directors includes Sindhu Srinivas as president and Christina Wurster as chief executive officer, alongside elected officers and the immediate past president.

• 2022

  Mission, vision, and strategic plan revised

  [2]Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine official websitesmfm.org

  Following membership feedback, the Board of Directors revised the society's mission, vision, and three-year strategic plan around advocacy and partnerships, member engagement and support, and knowledge, education, and research.

• 1977

  Organization established

  [1]Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicineen.wikipedia.org

  The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine was established as a professional organization dedicated to the development of maternal-fetal medicine.

A specialist medical society representing and supporting maternal-fetal medicine professionals, with emphasis on high-risk pregnancy care, evidence-informed education, research, advocacy, and equitable maternal and perinatal outcomes.

• Medical education

  Professional education

  SMFM provides education intended to support clinicians practicing maternal-fetal medicine. Its educational role reflects the specialist nature of high-risk pregnancy care and helps members maintain knowledge of evolving clinical approaches, research findings, and professional practice issues.

• Research support

  Research promotion and dissemination

  The society promotes research in maternal-fetal medicine and helps circulate knowledge relevant to maternal, fetal, and perinatal health. This activity supports the development of evidence and the translation of specialist findings into clinical and policy discussions.

• Professional advocacy

  Advocacy and partnerships

  SMFM engages in advocacy and partnerships connected with maternal-fetal medicine and equitable perinatal outcomes. The organization presents this work as a core part of supporting clinical practice and improving outcomes for people who experience or desire pregnancy.

• Professional association services

  Membership and professional support

  Membership activities connect professionals working in maternal-fetal medicine and support engagement within the specialty. The society's strategic plan identifies member engagement and support as one of its principal organizational priorities.

• 2022

  Adoption of a revised strategic frameworkStrategy

  Background

  The organization reviewed its direction with input from its membership and updated its mission, vision, and strategic priorities.

  Action taken

  SMFM organized its three-year strategy around advocacy and partnerships, member engagement and support, and knowledge, education, and research, while embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion across the framework.

  Aftermath

  The revised framework became the stated guide for the society's organizational work and its efforts to support equitable perinatal outcomes.

  Source

1. 1Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicineen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine official websitesmfm.org