Women of color experience gender biases in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) spaces that vary with their race (Double Jeopardy? Gender Bias Against Women in Science, 2014). Notably, only approximately 1 in 10 employed in science and/or engineering is a woman of color (National Science Foundation, 2017). In response, 500 Women Scientists is launching a new fellowship program—the Fellowship for the Future—to support women of color in STEM.

For the past 25 years, women have represented greater than 40% of medical school matriculants but continue to be underrepresented in positions of academic medical leadership: Women account for only 22% of full professors, and 16% of deans and department chairs in U.S. medical schools. The trends suggest that the number of talented women in medicine is not lacking, but rather the promotion and advancement of women is stifled. 500 Women in Medicine (500WIM), a satellite of 500 Women Scientists, has been launched by Kate Gerull, Jane Hayes, Iris Kuo, Maren Loe, and Tamara Sanchez-Ortiz, five medical students on a mission to improve gender equity in medicine.