Navigating the Annual Pregnancy Meeting

Created in partnership with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. SMFM was established in 1977 to “give Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) physicians and scientists a place to share knowledge, research and clinical best practices in order to improve care for moms and babies.”

While it will certainly be different than the 40 meetings before it, SMFM’s 41st Annual Meeting will provide the same cutting-edge science, postgraduate courses, poster sessions, and networking events that you have experienced in the past. Here is a bit more about how it will work.

President’s Workshop

On Jan. 25-26, SMFM and thePreeclampsia Foundation will co-host the 2021 President’s Workshop on Preeclampsia, bringing together the world’s leading researchers, clinicians, and patients for an in-depth look at how to better predict, prevent, and manage preeclampsia. Participate in the President’s Workshop at no cost and join the Twitter chat on Jan. 26 at 3:00 pm ET by posting and following the hashtag #MyPreeclampsiaStory.

Postgraduate Courses and CME

As we’ve done in the past for live meetings, we will kick off the 2021 Annual Meeting with a series of 15 half-day and full day Postgraduate Courses. Interact live with the course faculty and course directors on Jan. 25, 26 and 27 or watch the recorded version of the courses at your leisure. This year, we are offering up to 74 hours of CME via these courses.

If you want to register for multiple Postgraduate Courses on the same day, you can do that in 2021.

The courses will be offered via Zoom and you can bounce between courses or watch the recorded version on another day. Because of the Zoom’s limitations, however, it will not be possible to be logged into multiple courses at the same time.

Scientific Sessions

We will offer a new and timely course on Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. with an event jointly sponsored by SMFM and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called “Racism, Equity and Respectful Care: A Primer for MFMs.” This keynote panel presentation will feature Dr. Joia Crear-Perry, Prof. Dorothy Roberts, and Dr. Elizabeth Howell who will focus on three main messages: racism, not race, is the root of maternal health disparities; we must provide respectful care; and there is no quality without equity.

Following the keynote panel, there will be 15 Scientific Forums on Jan. 27. As we’ve always done, this will lead into the oral plenary sessions at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 28 and 29, and the poster presentations at various times on Jan. 28, 29, and 30. This year, we will have 101 oral presentations that will be shown live in real-time with live Q+A. Recordings will be available after the meeting.

Where’s that Big Abstract Book?

The Annual Meeting abstracts will be published online in the February 2021 supplement of AJOG. It is unlikely that you will have access to AJOG before the SMFM Annual Meeting arrives, but all of the abstracts will be available on the Annual Meeting website in January.The list of oral presentations is available on the SMFM website (www.smfm.org).

Where is the Online Content?

SMFM launched the Annual Meeting web portal on January 4. Registered meeting attendees can visit this site to access all of the meeting content later this month. Use your SMFM website log-in credentials and browse content, start building your schedule, create a profile, and message your friends and colleagues.

Do I Have to Watch it Live?

The postgraduate courses, poster presentations, and abstract oral presentations will be recorded and available for a year after the meeting. You can register now, watch at your leisure, and access more content in 2021 than you might have otherwise. You can also purchase recorded content after the meeting at the same price and access it throughout 2021.

How much does it cost to attend?

The cost to attend the 2021 Annual Meeting is half the price of what it has been in the past. Like in years past, the meeting cost changes depending on your career stage. For example, fellows, residents, and medical students can attend the scientific sessions for just $100.To see all of the pricing information and to register, Visit the SMFM website for all other pricing information and registration info.

How Do I Register?

Visit SMFM.org/2021 to view the complete meeting program and register. If you need assistance, contact Jessica Sheehan at jsheehan@smfm.org.

Follow Along with #SMFM21

SMFM’s Annual Meeting always creates a flurry of Twitter posts and connections between meeting attendees on social media. Follow #SMFM21 for all of the latest meeting news, summaries of the oral abstract presentations, and more.

But I Want to See My Friends!

The Annual Meeting is always a special time of year to connect with old friends and meet the next generation of MFM leaders. The virtual meeting platforms will offer plenty of opportunities for text-based chat conversations and social events like the All-Fellows Mini Retreat, Meet-the-Expert Sessions, Roundtables, and the Meet-the-Fellows Reception.

See familiar and new faces and connect screen-to-screen. The Wednesday opening reception will also provide a unique opportunity to engage with your MFM colleagues in a fun and casual way.

In spite of the incredibly challenging year we’ve had, SMFM members have moved their research forward in awe-inspiring ways. Take some time to learn, to support your colleagues, and connect with old friends at the 2021 Annual Meeting.