Representation of women physicians on USA medical school faculties was determined by enumeration from school catalogues according to professorial rank, title series and departmental affiliation. Similar data was compiled for top-level administrative posts, using periodic chronological comparisons from 1955 through 1977 and 1978. Despite a burgeoning population of women medical students, a pattern of underuse of women physicians was characterized by limited upward mobility on the faculty (professor: median, 3.0%; range, 0-18.2%; assistant professor: median, 7.3%; range, 0-28.7%). There were no women in chief executive positions.