Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how xiaomdphd.com ("the website") collects, uses, and protects information about visitors. This website is an independent personal project of Xiao Zhou, MD, PhD ("the author").

Scope

This Privacy Policy applies only to xiaomdphd.com and its public-facing pages. It does not apply to any private or password-protected subdomains, internal research portals, or third-party websites linked from this site.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit this website, certain information is collected automatically through standard web technologies:

• Google Analytics 4 (measurement ID: G-0KFXHWR7D8) is used to understand aggregate visitor behavior. Google Analytics collects information including approximate geographic location, device type, browser, operating system, pages visited, time spent, and referring website. IP addresses are anonymized. Data is processed by Google in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy.
• Server logs are maintained by the website's hosting provider (Netlify) and may include IP addresses, timestamps, and HTTP request information for security and operational purposes.
• Browser storage (localStorage) is used to remember user preferences, including consent status, watermark visibility, and portfolio filter selections. This data remains on your device only and is not transmitted to the author or any third party. You may clear this data at any time through your browser settings.

Information You Provide Directly

If you use the contact form on this website, the information you submit (name, email, subject, message) is transmitted securely and stored privately for the purpose of responding to your inquiry. This information is not shared with third parties, used for marketing, or sold under any circumstances. The author may retain this information for the duration necessary to respond to your communication and maintain reasonable records.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

This website uses cookies and similar technologies for:

• Analytics cookies (set by Google Analytics 4) to measure aggregate site usage
• Functional storage (localStorage) to remember your display preferences and consent status

No advertising cookies, cross-site tracking, or third-party marketing cookies are used. You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though some site features may not persist between sessions.

How Information Is Used

Information collected through this website is used solely to:

• Understand aggregate patterns of how visitors interact with educational content
• Improve the website's design, content, and user experience
• Maintain site security and operational stability
• Respond to direct inquiries submitted through the contact form
• Comply with applicable legal obligations

Information is not used for advertising, sold to third parties, used to build individual visitor profiles for commercial purposes, or shared with marketing services.

Data Sharing

The author does not sell, rent, or share visitor data with third parties for marketing purposes. Information may be processed by the following service providers strictly to operate this website:

• Google Analytics (analytics processing)
• Netlify (web hosting and server infrastructure)
• Cloudflare (where applicable, for content delivery and security)

These providers are subject to their own privacy policies and data processing agreements.

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights regarding personal data, including the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your data. Specifically:

• European Union / United Kingdom (GDPR): Rights including data access, rectification, erasure, and the right to object to processing.
• California (CCPA/CPRA): Rights including the right to know what personal information is collected and the right to request deletion.
• Other U.S. states: If you are a resident of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, or other states with comprehensive privacy laws, you may have similar rights.

To exercise any of these rights, please use the contact form. You may also opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

Data Retention

Google Analytics retains aggregate usage data according to its default retention policy. Server logs are retained by the hosting provider according to its standard policies. Contact form submissions are retained for the duration necessary to respond and maintain reasonable records.

Children's Privacy

This website is intended for medical professionals, students, and researchers and is not directed to children under 13. The author does not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided information to this website, please contact the author so it can be removed.

Security

The website uses standard security measures including HTTPS encryption for all visitor traffic. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure, and absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

Third-Party Links

This website may contain links to third-party websites, scientific publications, or external resources. The author is not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. Visitors are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites they visit.

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. The "Last updated" date at the top of this policy will reflect the most recent revision. Continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise any privacy rights described above, please use the contact form.