Women in medicine face persistent structural and cultural barriers that disproportionately hinder their career advancement. Professional medical associations serve as catalytic avenues for the advancement of women in academic medicine and the promotion of leadership. These associations can advance the development of academic, scientific and leadership positions for women through inclusive strategies. They offer practical frameworks designed to solve systemic problems. They also address the individual problems of women in medicine. The article was published in Nature Medicine online on January 27, 2026 with doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04202-2.