AUPO Privacy Policy

Last updated September 1, 2023

The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (“AUPO”) has created this privacy policy in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for www.aupo.org and all other AUPO-affiliated websites and mobile applications (collectively, “website”).

General Principles

  • We only use information collected on the website for AUPO purposes and as otherwise set forth below.
  • We deploy technology to protect the information you send us.
  • Cookies are used to keep track of information to allow a better user experience and this information is kept confidential within the AUPO.

I. Introduction

ATTENTION: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THIS Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (“AUPO,” “we,” or “our”) PRIVACY POLICY (“PRIVACY POLICY”), BEFORE YOU (“YOU”) ACCESS, DOWNLOAD ANY CONTENT FROM, OR OTHERWISE USE THE WEBSITE, located at https://www.aupo.org (“CONTENT”).   ACCESSING, DOWNLOADING OR OTHERWISE USING THE CONTENT INDICATES THAT YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS PRIVACY POLICY IN FULL. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THIS PRIVACY POLICY, DO NOT ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR OTHERWISE USE THE CONTENT. You acknowledge (a) that You have read and understood this Privacy Policy; and (b) for users outside the European Union, this Privacy Policy shall have the same force and effect as a signed agreement.

The Content is operated by AUPO and can be contacted at 655 Beach St. San Francisco, CA 94109.  This Privacy Policy describes the information collected through Your use of the Content, how we use it, how we share it, how we protect it, and the choices You can make about Your information. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, any new features that augment or enhance the current Content shall be subject to this Privacy Policy.

Please review the Privacy Policy each time You use the Content. If we materially change this Privacy Policy, we will update this page to reflect any changes to this Privacy Policy and notify You by email, if we have Your email address. BY USING THE CONTENT, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE MOST RECENT VERSION OF THE PRIVACY POLICY.  

II. Information We Collect

We may collect information from You when You use the Content and when You contact or interact with us, including registering for the AUPO Annual meeting.

A. Information You Provide to Us

The website incorporates forms for AUPO members and other customers to request information, products, and services and to register on-line for the AUPO Annual Meeting. We collect Your contact information (such as Your email address), financial information (such as Your account or credit card number), and demographic information (such as zip code, address, state, and your institution). Unique identifiers are collected to verify Your identity. Contact information from order forms or surveys is used to analyze website use. Financial information that is collected is used to check Your qualifications and bill You for products and services that you order.

B. Information We May Automatically Collect When You Use the Content

When You access and use the Content, we may automatically collect information about You, including Your Content browsing history, Your purchase history of AUPO products and services, Your attendance at AUPO events, and Your clicks on AUPO Content or emails from AUPO

In addition, when You access and use the Content, we may automatically collect information regarding You and Your device, including Your device’s IP address, the domain name of Your Internet service provider (“ISP”), Your location, Your mobile device information (e.g., device model and operating system version), Your page visits, and aggregated information that cannot be used to specifically identify You. Additional information collected is described in the Analytics and Cookies, Local Storage and Other Tracking Technologies sections below.

C.  How We Use and Disclose the Information We Collect

We use the information we collect about You to administer the website and AUPO programs.  

We use the information we collect about You to assess our programs and for other internal quality assurance purposes.

We aggregate the information we collect about You with other users of the website, and publish and present that aggregated data.  The aggregated data is de-identified, and does not identify You.

We may use the information we collect about You for several other purposes, including:

  • To complete transactions that You initiate;
  • To provide Content to You (including, but not limited to, customized Content recommendations, and sending an SMS message or other notification);
  • To process and respond to Your inquiries and comments;
  • To identify You as a user of the Content;
  • To enable You to provide comments and participate in questions and answers and surveys;
  • To contact You with information, including promotional information, that we believe will be of interest to You;
  • To provide relevant advertising;
  • To display relevant advertising across websites and mobile applications;
  • To analyze the Content;
  • To improve our understanding of user and AUPO member preferences and interests;
  • To administer, operate, and improve the Content or develop new services;
  • To generate and review reports and data about our user base and service usage patterns;
  • To prevent fraud and abuse of the Content and to otherwise protect users and visitors and our business;
  • To assist law enforcement if requested and respond to subpoenas; and,
  • To perform other business activities as needed, or as described elsewhere in this Privacy Policy or the Terms or Service as permitted or required by law.

We may disclose information about Your AUPO membership and Your participation in AUPO activities to AUPO-affiliated medical societies and boards, such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Ophthalmology.

We disclose aggregated data about You and other users of the website to our industry sponsors.  We also present and publish that aggregated information.  This aggregated data is de-identified and does not identify You.

We may use third party service providers and business partners to perform services and functions on our behalf in connection with the Content, such as analyzing and improving Content usefulness, storing data, advertising, and as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy.  We may disclose information about You to those third party service providers and business partners when such disclosure is necessary or appropriate for the service or function they provide.

We may also share Your information with our affiliates for purposes consistent with this Privacy Policy. Our affiliates will be required to maintain that information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

We may disclose information about You to third parties if we believe that such disclosure is necessary to:

•          Comply with the law or guidance and cooperate with government or law enforcement officials or private parties;

•          Investigate, prevent or take action regarding suspected illegal activities, suspected fraud, False Claims Act violations, the rights, reputation, safety, and property of us, users, or others, or violations of Our policies or other agreements with us;

•          Respond to claims and legal process (for example, subpoenas); and/or

•          Protect against legal liability.

We may use third-party analytics tools to better understand who is using the Content and how people are using it. These tools may use cookies and other technologies to collect information about Your use of the Content and Your preferences and activities. These tools collect information sent by Your device or the Content and other information that assists us in improving the Content. This information may be used to analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, and better understand Your online activity, among other things.

D.  Confidentiality and Data Security

All collected data will be stored securely and treated with the utmost confidentiality, following applicable data protection laws and regulations. The website will implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse of the collected data.

E.  Voluntary Participation and Accuracy of Information

The provision of gender and race information is entirely voluntary, and users are under no obligation to provide such information. Users who choose to provide their gender and race information are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and truthfulness of the data they submit.

F.  Non-Discrimination

The website will not engage in any form of discrimination based on the gender or race information provided. The collected data will be used solely for statistical or research purposes and will not be used to make decisions regarding individual treatment, services, or opportunities.

G.  Legal Compliance

The website will comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the collection, processing, and storage of personal information, including gender and race information.

Users are responsible for complying with any legal obligations related to the provision of accurate and lawful gender and race information.

H.  Amendments to the Privacy Policy

The website reserves the right to modify or update this Privacy Policy at any time, without prior notice. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on the website.

Users are encouraged to regularly review the Privacy Policy to stay informed about any updates or modifications.

I.  Limitation of Liability

The website shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with the collection, use, or disclosure of gender and race information.

J.  Third Party Websites

The website contains links to other sites. In the event you choose to access such third-party websites, the AUPO and the website are not responsible for any actions or policies of such third parties. We recommend that you check the applicable privacy policy of third parties before providing personally identifiable information to it, as its privacy policy may differ from our website’s policies.

K.  Cookies and Local Storage, and Other Tracking Technologies

We, along with third parties, use cookies, local storage objects, web beacons and other technologies. These technologies are used for tracking, analyzing, personalizing, and optimizing the Content.

Cookies are small files that are transferred to and stored on Your computer through Your web browser (if You allow it) that enable the website’s or service provider’s system to recognize Your browser and capture and remember certain information. You can instruct Your browser to stop accepting cookies. But if You do not accept cookies, You may not be able to use all portions of all functionality of the Content.

Persistent cookies remain on the visitor’s computer after the browser has been closed.

Session cookies exist only during a visitor’s online session and disappear from the visitor’s computer when he/she closes the browser software.

Flash cookies (also known as local shared objects) are data files that can be created on Your computer by the websites You visit, and are a way for websites to store information for later use. Flash cookies are stored in different parts of Your computer from ordinary browser cookies. You can disable the storage of flash cookies. For additional information about managing and disabling flash cookies, visit: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/disable-local-shared-objects-flash.html.

Web beacons are small strings of code that provide a method for delivering a graphic image on a web page or in an email message for the purpose of transferring data. You can disable the ability of web beacons to capture information by blocking cookies.

We use cookies and other tracking technologies on the Content to help us understand and save Your preferences and interests so we can personalize Your future visits and compile aggregate data about Content traffic and Content interaction so that we can offer better Content experiences and tools in the future.

Some of our business partners, such as our analytics providers and social media connections, also use cookies and other tracking technologies on the Content, some of which may track users across websites and over time.

L.  AUPO Email Privacy Policy

The AUPO endeavors to protect your email address from inappropriate use. If the AUPO determines the use of your email address is of benefit to its members, the AUPO may, with the approval of its Executive Vice President, send a message to the membership on behalf of third party requestors. Members may opt-out of receiving future AUPO emails by emailing that request to aupo@aao.org and including Opt-Out on the subject line.

M.  Children

Our Content is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from an individual under age 16. If You are under the age of 16, please do not submit any personal information through the Content. If You have reason to believe that we may have accidentally received personal information from an individual under age 16, contact us immediately at aupo@aao.org.

Contacting the Website

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this website, or your dealings with this website, you can contact:

Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology
c/o SF Association Management Services

655 Beach Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
aupo@aao.org