Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht, Frederick

Dr. Alec Sunyecz is originally from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He earned an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and went on to receive his medical degree from West Virginia University. He completed his OB/GYN residency training at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, where he developed a strong interest in robotic and minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Dr. Sunyecz enjoys all aspects of women’s health, from contraceptive counseling to high-risk pregnancies. He has a particular passion for conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and infertility. He is dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate care that empowers women through every stage of life.

Dr. Sunyecz joins Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht September 15 and looks forward to caring for our Frederick patient community.

Dr. Ashley Bellamy is an accomplished OBGYN physician, her vast knowledge allows her to provide care to women of all ages. Dr. Bellamy attended Morgan State University for her undergraduate degree and Boston University School Of Medicine where she received her M.D. in 2015. She completed her training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health.

Dr. Bellamy is patient and compassionate, tailoring care to every patient. She believes strongly in patient education, and empowering women of all ages to be an advocate for their own health.

Dr. Bellamy resides in Gaithersburg, MD with her husband and two young daughters.

Dr. Bellamy supports deliveries for Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht at Shady Grove Hospital.

Kim Pekin is a Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife with nearly two decades of experience, including ownership of two CABC-accredited freestanding birth centers in Virginia. She offers full-scope midwifery care throughout the lifespan and is passionate about helping people have personalized birth experiences, whether that includes an epidural or an unmedicated labor.

Kim incorporates evidence-based care with complementary modalities to support the individual needs of each patient. She earned her Master of Science in Midwifery from Thomas Jefferson University and is currently completing her Doctorate of Midwifery.

In addition to her compassionate pregnancy care, Kim offers comprehensive gynecologic services. From birth control and perimenopause to urinary incontinence, pelvic floor health, and conditions like PCOS or sexually transmitted infections, she addresses a wide range of health concerns with expertise and empathy. Kim also prioritizes preventive care, providing annual well-woman exams and essential cancer screenings to empower her patients with the knowledge and tools they need to support their well-being.

Outside of work, Kim enjoys spending time with her husband, their seven children, and two Goldendoodle fur babies. She also loves board games, quilting, knitting, and cooking.

Kim joins the Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht team August 8.

Karen Brindle, MSN, CNM is a certified nurse-midwife practicing at the Frederick, MD, Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht OBGYN location. Karen supports women’s health at every life stage. Her services include pregnancy and midwifery care.

Karen is the proud mother of two daughters and grandmother of four. When not at work, she enjoys biking, crocheting, jewelry making and oiling.

Theresa D. Poepperling, MSN, CNM is a certified nurse-midwife practicing at the Frederick, MD, Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht OBGYN location. With services that include pregnancy care, midwifery care, gynecology, birth control, long-term birth control such as IUDs, and contraception counseling, Theresa cares for women of throughout every stage of their healthcare journey.

Brianna is an experienced licensed clinical social worker with background in child welfare and community mental health services. Brianna specializes in depression, anxiety, parenting, attachment, perinatal mental health, relationship difficulties, and trauma, with a strong focus on trauma-responsive care. She uses various modalities to meet the individual needs of clients, families, and couples. Some of these modalities include CBT, DBT, TF-CBT, and EMDR. Brianna believes in building strong therapeutic alliances and does so using compassion, empathy, and humor. She graduated with her Master’s in Social Work from University of Maryland School of Social Work with a specialization in children and families.

Eva is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience serving in a wide variety of clinical and healthcare settings and in private practice. She specializes in treating issues related to life transitions and helping people work through depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and addictive behaviors. Eva uses different therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, DBT, conflict management, communication skills development, mindfulness practices, and stress reduction.