"Patient education is one of my highest priorities. When patients are well informed, it's easier for them to take an active role in their own health care."

"Communication is the key to my relationship with my patients," says Dawn Anderson, M.D., a full-time member of the OB/Gyn practice at MIT Medical/Cambridge since January. "I'm very open with my patients, and I think that makes them feel more comfortable talking to me."

Anderson has a special interest in diagnosing and treating women with abnormal pap smears. "In these situations, patients need accurate information to make the best choices," she notes. "I see myself as a facilitator for that process."

Obstetrics is another major interest, she says. "Being there when a baby is born is such an honor that I never get tired of it, even though babies often come in the middle of the night," she laughs. And working with the midwives at MIT Medical and Mount Auburn is a special bonus, she adds. "I chose a midwife to attend the birth of my second child, and I think it's a wonderful option."

When not working, Anderson enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children. "I've grown to appreciate the challenges of balancing family and career," she says. "It isn't easy, but I find both very rewarding."

"MIT students are incredibly caring and supportive of one another. My goal is to help them thrive in this rigorous academic environment by providing them with tools to support each other."

As a health educator at the Center for Health Promotion and Wellness, Susanna Barry—who goes by Zan—manages campus-wide education activities on important issues like coping with stress. "Through experiential learning, I try to educate students and student peer leaders about topics like reducing stress, developing a healthy body image, and coping with anxiety," Barry explains. One important goal, she says, is connecting people with resources to address concerns early.

She coordinates her efforts with other campus departments, like the Academic Resource Center, DAPER (Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation), Residence Life, and the International Students Office. One-on-one contact with students is also important, Barry says. "I keep office hours in the Z-Center one evening a week, which makes it convenient for students to talk with me."

Barry has a master's in education from Tufts University. She has worked in education and youth development in Cambridge for more than 10 years. Barry is also a self-described "yoga geek," whose hobbies include taking yoga classes, teaching yoga classes, and reading books about yoga.

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"My goal is to treat all of my patients like I would treat members of my own family."

Orthopedic surgeon Thomas Burke, M.D., sees patients at MIT Medical one day a week and performs surgery at Mount Auburn Hospital. He specializes in sports medicine, particularly shoulder and knee arthroscopy.

Burke, a Massachusetts native, has spent the past 15 years in the Philadelphia area attending college and studying medicine. While completing his orthopedic residency, Burke worked with sports teams and served as team physician for various sporting events in the Philadelphia area. He treated student-athletes at West Chester University and professional soccer players from the Kixx, Philadelphia's MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) team. He also treated skateboarders, inline skaters, speed climbers, motocross freestylers and other "extreme athletes" at the 2002 X Games in Philadelphia.

Burke's work at MIT has been somewhat tamer so far. "Right now I'm just enjoying being back in New England and settling in to my new practice," he says. "But I hope I'll have the opportunity to work with sports teams here as well."

When he has the chance, Burke enjoys playing golf. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and young children.

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"After 17 years, I continue to be excited about midwifery, because I still learn so much from my patients."

Deb Gowen, C.N.M., one of two nurse-midwives practicing at MIT Medical, sees patients at MIT Medical one day a week. She's also available at Mount Auburn OB/Gyn Associates in Arlington, an MIT Medical-affiliated practice, for patients who choose to receive their care there. Gowen provides routine gynecological and obstetrical care and enjoys seeing women at different stages of life. "Right now, I am starting to see my second generation of patients—a baby girl I delivered, who is now grown and coming to me for her gynecological care."

Gowen has been a nurse-midwife since 1986, after first getting a B.A. in English in 1974, and working in retail management. "My specialty was health food stores, which has given me extensive knowledge of nutrition and supplements, topics my patients often express interest in," she says. Gowen is also interested in holistic approaches to healing.

Outside of work, Gowen enjoys spending time with her two teenage sons, both of whom were delivered by midwives.

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"It's wonderful that MIT Medical is offering midwifery services to the women of the community. I am thrilled to be part of it."

Marcia Snyder, C.N.M., is one of two nurse-midwives practicing at MIT Medical. She sees patients at MIT Medical one day a week for obstetrical care, routine gynecological care, contraceptive counseling, STD screening, and safe sex counseling.

Snyder became a midwife because of her own childbirth experiences. "I didn't even know midwives existed when I had my children, but I loved childbirth and wanted to work in that field," she explains. Her mother sent her an article about a nurse-midwife training program opening at Cook County Hospital, near where she lived. "When I read that article I just knew I had to do it," she says. Because Snyder was not a nurse already—she was a preschool teacher—this meant she had to earn her nursing degree and work for a year before she could attend the two-year master's degree program in midwifery. "Committing seven years to my nursing and midwifery training was difficult at times, especially with two small children, but it was worth it!" she says.

Outside of work, Snyder enjoys spending time with her two grown daughters and traveling with her husband.

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"I believe that the holistic approach—treating the whole person—is fundamental to providing high-quality health care."

As a family nurse practitioner, Bonnie Eklund sees both children and adults at MIT Medical/Lexington. She also sees adults in Internal Medicine at MIT Medical/Cambridge one or two days a week. Eklund, a Canadian native, was interested in medicine from an early age. Her family still laughs about the time when, as an 11-year-old, she asked the family physician to define "metastases." They're still not sure where she came across the term.

After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in nursing, Eklund moved to New Mexico. There she worked as a nurse in rural hospital emergency rooms, intensive care units, operating rooms, and obstetrical wards.

Becoming a nurse practitioner was a natural next step, she says. "I really enjoyed working with patients one-on-one." So Eklund moved north to attend the family nurse practitioner graduate program at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Since completing the program, Eklund has worked at the Simmons College Health Center and various community health centers.

Eklund also provides medical services from a mobile medical van to runaways and other troubled youth as a volunteer with Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a Boston-area, non-profit organization. When not working or volunteering, Eklund, a former competitive figure skater, coaches young skaters. She also loves taking walks with her Saint Bernard, Brooklyn.

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