Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 13, 2026

1. Introduction

Bench To Bedside ("we", "our", or "us") is a mobile and web application designed to connect medical students, mentors, and peers in the medical field. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our application.

2. Information We Collect

• Account Information: When you register, we collect your name, email address, career field, institution, and department.
• Profile Information: You may optionally upload a profile picture.
• Messages: We store messages you send through the app's messaging features (direct messages and group chats).
• Team Data: If you join a team, we store your team membership and any files or projects you upload.
• Usage Data: We may collect basic usage data to improve the app experience.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To provide and maintain our application services.
• To enable communication between users (messaging, team collaboration).
• To send email notifications (which you can opt out of in Settings).
• To verify your email address during registration.
• To facilitate the Bench To Bedside competition and mentorship program.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers. We use industry-standard encryption for data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and secure password hashing (BCrypt) for your credentials. We do not store your plaintext password.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or share your personal information with third parties. Your information is only visible to other users of the app as necessary for the app's functionality (e.g., your name and profile picture are visible to other users in messaging and team features).

6. Your Rights

• You can view and update your account information through the Settings page.
• You can change your password at any time.
• You can control email notification preferences in Settings.
• You can request deletion of your account by contacting us.

7. Children's Privacy

Our app is intended for medical students and professionals. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 years of age.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of any significant changes through the app or via email.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us through the Contact Us page in the app or email us at benchtobedside@neomed.edu.