Established in 1915 as the Medical Women's National Association, the organization was renamed American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) in 1937.
According to its minutes, on November 18, 1915, eleven women, nine of whom were M.D.'s, met to discuss the advisability of organizing a national association of medical women in order to promote good fellowship. Originally incorporated in New York State in 1924 as the Medical Women's National Association, the organization adopted its present name in 1937. According to the constitution, as amended in 1967, the purposes of the Association are " ... to further the art and science of medicine; to promote interests common to women physicians and the public; to aid and encourage pre-medical, medical and post-graduate studies; to foster medical relief projects; and to cooperate with other organizations having comparable interests." Although, at its inception, membership was open to all women with medical interests, the Association is now limited to women physicians and women medical students.