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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.

I was born in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to becoming an OBGYN, I received my undergraduate degree from Williams College and my M.D. degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. I remained at Georgetown for my OBGYN residency training. Before becoming an OB Hospitalist at Shady Grove Medical Center (SGMC) in 2015, I was in private practice in Northern Virginia for 25 years. I was a Governor-appointed Member of the Virginia Board of Medicine from 2004-2013 and served as its President from 2009-2010. I am currently proud to serve as a Member of the SGMC Medical Executive Committee. I was honored to be awarded the SGMC Physician RISES Award in 2018. This award is given biannually to the physician who exemplifies the hospital’s values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship. When away from work, I enjoy traveling, taking long walks with friends and family, and spending time with my husband and two adult daughters.

Dr. Lima Redhead is a compassionate, service-driven women’s health professional. She is a practicing OBGYN at Simmonds, Martin, and Helmbrecht’s Rockville, MD, location. The youngest of eight children, Dr. Redhead was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago before coming to the US for university. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Towson University while living in Baltimore. After medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville and residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Dr. Redhead spent 14 years working with under-served families in the Chicago suburbs. Having recently returned to Maryland, Dr. Redhead is thrilled to be closer to family while continuing to do the work she loves.

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Melissa Hernandez spent her middle and high school years in Charles Town, West Virginia, making her return to the Frederick area especially meaningful. Her journey to medicine began at West Virginia University, where she earned both her bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering and her medical degree. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where she trained in a high-acuity, high-volume program caring for complex obstetric patients and performing gynecologic surgery.

Dr. Hernandez is committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care rooted in trust, respect, and open communication. She combines the latest evidence-based medicine with a personalized approach, partnering with each patient to support their health and individual goals.

Her clinical interests include comprehensive obstetric care, high-risk obstetrics, preventive women's health, contraception, and the management of common gynecologic conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding and fibroids. She also has a special interest in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, perinatal mental health, and robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery. She is currently pursuing certification in obesity medicine to further expand her expertise in promoting women's lifelong health and wellness.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Hernandez enjoys traveling, running, practicing Pilates, reading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to return to the Frederick area and looks forward to caring for the women and families in her community.

Dr. Hernandez joins the Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht team in September.

Dr. Regina Nagy is a board-certified OBGYN with more than a decade of experience caring for women in both community and academic settings. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and completed her residency at Detroit Medical Center. She also holds a Master of Science in Anatomy and maintains certifications in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM®), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).

Dr. Nagy provides comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care, including labor and delivery support, preventive well-woman exams and screenings, routine gynecologic care, contraception counseling, menopause management, and urgent gynecologic care. In addition to her work as an OB/GYN generalist and hospitalist, she has served as a clinical assistant professor, teaching and mentoring medical students and OB/GYN residents.

Dr. Nagy believes the foundation of exceptional women's healthcare is listening. She takes the time to understand each patient's unique experiences, concerns, and goals, and is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that supports informed, shared decision-making.

Outside of work, Dr. Nagy enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Nagy will join the Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht team on September 14 and looks forward to caring for women throughout the community.

Amy Olsson, MSN, CNM is a certified nurse-midwife practicing at Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht OBGYN, in Frederick, MD. She is committed to educating and empowering her patients. Her services include pregnancy and midwifery care.

Rachel Blache is a board-certified Certified Nurse Midwife who brings a deeply compassionate, evidence-based approach to the team. Rachel earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Towson University and spent over four years providing low and high-risk inpatient nursing care on the labor and delivery unit at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, with a level III NICU facility.

Driven by a passion for advanced practice, Rachel went on to graduate with her Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati. Throughout her clinical training, Rachel gained diverse, well-rounded experience managing low-risk antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum patients, physiologic labor outside of the hospital and comprehensive full-spectrum gynecologic care, including preventive well-woman exams, routine screenings, birth control counseling, STI testing and treatment, and management of common gynecologic concerns..

Rachel holds specialized certifications in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) and Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB).

Her philosophy of care is rooted in partnership, education, and deep respect for each individual's journey. Rachel believes that true empowerment begins with knowledge; by providing comprehensive, evidence-based education, she aims to demystify healthcare and give her patients the tools they need to fully understand their health. Through shared decision-making, she works alongside her patients as a team to navigate care plans that respect personal values while prioritizing safety and clinical excellence. Her goal is to ensure every individual feels heard, respected and completely confident in their healthcare choices.

Outside of the clinic, Rachel lives in Sykesville with her husband and their lively household of two dogs and two cats. In her free time, you can usually find her crafting and working on her latest creative project.

Rachel joins the Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht team in August and looks forward to serving our community.

Sherene Lynnell Broome, MSN, CNM is a certified nurse-midwife practicing at Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht OBGYN. Her office is located in Frederick, MD. Sherene's services include pregnancy and midwifery care, and she is committed to supporting a woman through every stage of life.

Sumayya Sulaiman, CNM, completed her Nurse-Midwifery education at Frontier Nursing University after earning her nursing degree from George Mason University.

In addition to her clinical work, Sumayya serves as a scholarship coordinator and faculty member at Mercy In Action College of Midwifery. In this role, she supports students in maintaining scholarship eligibility by monitoring academic progress, ensuring compliance with program requirements, and collaborating with faculty on curriculum development and implementation.

Sumayya is committed to providing respectful, patient-centered maternity care. She strives to create a safe and inclusive environment where every patient feels valued, heard, and empowered in their care. Her approach is grounded in evidence-based practice and a deep respect for the diverse experiences of the families she serves.

She is passionate about supporting informed decision-making, building trusting relationships, and delivering culturally sensitive, inclusive care across the full spectrum of reproductive health, from preconception through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond.

In her free time, Sumayya enjoys learning Arabic, playing chess, caring for her plants, and spending time with her loved ones.

Sumayya joins the Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht team June 15 and looks forward to caring for our community.

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 throughout every stage of their healthcare journey.

Nicole Budd, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a clinical focus in women’s health and OB/GYN care. She provides compassionate, evidence-based care for women across all stages of life, including comprehensive well-woman exams, contraceptive counseling, prenatal and postpartum care, and menopause management.

Nicole completed her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner program at Chamberlain University and brings a strong background in critical care, perioperative nursing, and trauma-informed patient care. Her clinical training includes hands-on experience in OB/GYN, primary care, and pediatrics, where she developed advanced skills in preventive care, patient education, and women’s health procedures.

Prior to nursing, Nicole earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, which helped shape her holistic approach to patient care. She is passionate about the mind-body connection and emphasizes wellness through exercise, nutrition, preventive care, and healthy lifestyle habits.

Nicole is experienced in evaluating and treating a wide range of gynecologic concerns, including abnormal uterine bleeding, PCOS, pelvic pain, vaginitis, urinary concerns, and STIs. She is committed to creating a supportive, respectful environment where patients feel heard, informed, and empowered in their healthcare decisions.

An active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Nicole remains committed to ongoing professional development and evidence-based care. She also maintains certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).

She strives to create a supportive, respectful environment where patients feel heard, informed, and empowered in their healthcare decisions.

Nicole joins the Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht care team June 30.

Van-Ess Anane is a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner focused on delivering evidence-based care that prioritizes each patient’s unique needs and goals. Van-Ess earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2018 and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in 2025 from Rutgers University.

Throughout her nursing career, Van-Ess has gained diverse clinical experience across inpatient medical-surgical units, postoperative gynecologic care, outpatient hematology infusion settings, and inpatient eating disorder and psychiatric units. This broad background has shaped her well-rounded and compassionate approach to patient care.

Van-Ess has clinical experience in gynecology, prenatal and postpartum care, and primary care, with a strong focus on preventive health, reproductive health, and the management of both acute and chronic gynecologic conditions. Her philosophy of care centers on building genuine, trusting relationships with her patients.

In her free time, Van-Ess enjoys reading, traveling, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Van-Ess joins the Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht team on June 15 and looks forward to serving our community.

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.

Taylor is a Clinically Licensed Social Worker that is passionate about supporting people through life’s challenges to optimize their health and well-being. She approaches each client as an individual and uses an integrative treatment approach to support clients experiencing anxiety, depression, health stress, grief, relational distress and difficulty with adjustment to life transitions. Taylor believes that with the right support and appropriate tools, everyone has the capacity to create change and work towards their goals.