This study highlights the findings from focus groups conducted with 35 women faculty across Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor ranks in which they discussed barriers and facilitators for advancement of women scientists at an academic medical center. Several emergent themes that affect women’s advancement include gendered expectation norms, work-life balance, mentorship/sponsorship, adoption of a team science approach, tenure process milestones, soft money research infrastructure, institution specific policies (or lack thereof), and operating within an MD-biased culture. These findings are compared with the extant literature of women scientists in STEM institutions. Factors that emerged from these focus groups highlight the need for evidence-based interventions in the often overlooked STEM arena of academic medical centers.