The proceedings of a conference on women's leadership and authority in the health professions is presented. Following the opening remarks by Patricia Borne, speeches by Lucy Geiselman on the history of women in the health sciences and Sheryl Ruzek on the purpose of the conference are presented. The keynote address by Norma Juliet Wikler on the status of women in the health professions is provided. The following seven topics (and representative speech titles) are considered: (1) the informal organization of leadership and authority ("Development of Feminist Networks in the Health Sciences"--Arlene Kaplan Daniels); (2) further barriers to moving up ("Go Hire Yourself a Mentor"--Mary P. Rowe"; (3) career patterns ("Continuity and Noncontinuity in the Careers of a Sample of Young Women Physicians"--Lillian Kaufman Cartwright); (4) abstracts of published works and works in progress ("Becoming Professional"--Rue Bucher and Joan G. Stelling); (5) different structures of leadership authority ("Women in Decision Making"--Suzanne Estler); (6) innovative programs ("Reduced-Schedule Graduate Medical Education: A Status Report"--Eileen Shapiro and Shirley G. Driscoll); and (7) directions for change ("Androgynous Maturity and the Nurse Practitioner"--Martha Sturm White). An approximately 150-item bibliography, a list of conference participants, and summary evaluation are appended. (PHR)