"It's important to me that my patients understand all of their treatment options. That's why I routinely encourage patients to get second and third opinions."

MIT's Dental Service welcomed general dentist James Conley, D.D.S., early this past summer. Conley sees patients in Cambridge on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Conley, a Medford native, earned his bachelor's degree at Boston College and went on to study dentistry at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Conley returned to Boston and began practicing dentistry in Central Square, not far from the MIT campus. "That was quite a while ago, but I rode the Red Line to work, just like I do today," he laughed.

In the intervening years, Conley has worked in a number of different settings, including a group practice and a U.S. Navy dental clinic in Rhode Island. "I have always appreciated the diversity of the people I've met during my years as a dentist," Conley explained. "A lot of interesting people have sat in my chair."

Conley and his wife have seven children and 11 grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, handicapping horses, and working on old cars.

"One of the most rewarding aspects of my job at MIT is pediatric triage, helping parents through difficult times when their children are ill."

Mary Guanci, R.N., joined MIT Medical late in the summer as a pediatric triage nurse, a new position in the Pediatric Service. She will be responsible for answering parents' questions over the telephone and helping them decide if their child needs to be seen. She'll also be giving immunizations to all pediatric patients and assessing children who come in with acute needs, like asthma attacks.

Guanci began her career as a nurse at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital after she earned her nursing degree at Somerville Hospital. For the past seven years, Guanci has worked as a classroom nurse for the North Shore Education Consortium, caring for children with extensive medical needs. "The work was very rewarding but I was ready to move into a clinic setting," she explains.

Guanci, a Malden native, is married and has two daughters who attend Boston University. She tries to get to Sebago, Maine, in her spare time where she enjoys boating in the summer and skiing in the winter.

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"Immunology and the study of allergies are fascinating fields. I feel like a detective with some patients as I try to solve the mystery of what's causing their reactions."

Allergist/Immunologist Debby Lin, M.D., is no stranger to MIT. She completed her undergraduate degree in biology here in 1995. Now she sees patients at MIT Medical in Cambridge on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Lin, who went on to earn her medical degree at Yale, says she was always drawn to basic science and feels that her strong background in scientific research makes her a better physician. "My research background informs how I think about problems, how I read scientific literature, and how I evaluate disease processes," she explains. "This is the intellectual part of medicine that intrigues me."

Working with patients who have allergies and asthma is very rewarding Lin says. "Even though these are chronic conditions, we now have excellent medications available that can really improve a patient's quality of life."

Lin also says she enjoys being back at MIT. "It's been interesting to see how things have changed on campus since I left and to learn about the inner workings of MIT Medical."

When not working, Lin enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures.

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"I don't think we can treat patients out of context. I try to look at the whole picture: who they go home to, where they go home to, and what other challenges they might be facing."

Family nurse practitioner Amy Luebehusen, A.P.R.N., B.C., joined the staff of MIT Medical/Lexington at the end of September. "I really enjoy working with entire families," she says. "Because I take care of both children and adults, I'll often see a child for something and end up treating Mom or Dad at the same time."

Luebehusen earned her undergraduate degree in biology at Western Maryland College but decided nursing was her true calling. She went back to school and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing at the University of Pennsylvania.

"I was very interested in primary care, particularly at a community health center, and the best fit I found was in Lowell, Massachusetts," Luebehusen explains. She worked as a family nurse practitioner at the Lowell Community Health Center for five years, providing primary care to adults and children in a diverse community. In the past two years, Luebehusen has also gone on medical missions to such diverse places as Nicaragua and Kenya.

Luebehusen is engaged to be married next year, so much of her spare time is taken up with wedding planning. She also enjoys reading and outdoor activities.

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