Meet Our Team

Dr. Dust cannot recall a time she wanted to be anything other than a doctor. During her third year of residency, she returned to her hometown and the wonderful community in which she grew up. In 2011, she joined Effingham Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, where she has focused on building a low- and high-risk obstetrical practice, while establishing a foundation of trust and an environment of support between herself, her colleagues, her patients, and the members of the community. She is forever grateful to the mothers who have allowed her to help them bring life into the world. She looks forward to many more years doing exactly what she loves.

Dr. Haller had planned to go into Family Medicine when she started medical school but found that she also enjoyed surgery and obstetrics. Becoming an OBGYN has allowed her the ability to combine office, surgery and obstetrics. She joined the two founding physicians at the newly formed Effingham Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates when she got out of Residency in 1994. She is now the sole remaining physician that started 29 years ago and says she has been fortunate to have three other female physicians, 3 physician assistants and a nurse practitioner join her. When Dr. Haller tells people that she has the greatest job ever, she really means it! She now provides care to three generations of some families, caring for grandmas, mothers, and daughters. One of the funniest stories was told by a father whose son was on a traveling baseball team. He says as he was preparing to provide the team roster with proof of age with the birth certificates for a tournament, all but one of the team member's birth certificates was signed by Dr. Haller as the delivering physician! Dr. Haller states, "Some of my days are long and some nights even longer, but I LOVE my job and can't imagine doing anything else!"

One of Dr. Massengill's favorite things about Ob-Gyn is the wide range the field encompasses. She loves the variety in the day, from educating a 10-year-old about periods to helping a 70-year-old navigate a uterine prolapse. She enjoys the opportunity to grow with her patients and be present for some of the most intimate parts of their lives and still witness, develop, and carry on a relationship at least yearly with them. Pediatric/adolescent gynecology and robotic surgery are among the areas of particular interest to Dr. Massengill.

Dr. Simons is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with over 20 years of experience caring for women through every stage of life. He is dedicated to delivering good outcomes, healthy babies, and positive experiences for his patients. Inspired by his mother, a nurse, and his godfather, a physician, as well as by watching medical shows growing up, Dr. Simons brings a warm, attentive approach to each visit—listening carefully, prioritizing patient comfort, and practicing with genuine patience.

Stefani’s approach to patients is caring, compassionate, and education based, knowing that the nature of the fields brings both fun and exciting times in a woman's life, as well as some very unexpected and scary moments. A teacher at heart, Stefani loves giving young women the information they need to make an informed decision on their health and wellbeing. Ob-Gyn gives her the opportunity to teach and build relationships that foster understanding and trust. Stefani started her professional career as a teacher and athletic trainer but fell in love with the Ob-Gyn field during her rotation at Effingham Ob/Gyn. She appreciates the educational part of the job and has a passion for guiding expectant mothers in the beginning of their pregnancy journeys. Stefani believes that young women should feel like their Ob-Gyn is a place they can be comfortable asking questions and know they will get trusted answers. Her days are diverse, with patients varying from teenagers to mature women, from advising the newly pregnant to assisting with deliveries, surgeries, and procedures. The variety is what drew her to the field and the ability to make a difference in someone's life has made her want to stay day after day.

Jody believes every woman deserves compassionate care from a provider who is dedicated to the most current evidenced-based treatments available. She prides herself on being an active listener and thoroughly addressing all concerns presented by her patients. Her approach to care is to improve the quality of life in every patient through education and providing first-rate care from an unparalleled institution. With a background in Urology, she was inspired to apply her knowledge in helping women manage a range of UroGyn issues, such as pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, interstitial cystitis, and diagnostic testing for bladder dysfunction.

Julie Ann Brasel is a certified nurse-midwife and lactation counselor with a passion for empowering women through shared decision-making and patient-centered care. Her early exposure to childbirth within her family, along with the transformative experience of having her own children, inspired her journey into obstetrics and midwifery. Julie earned her nursing degrees from Kaskaskia College and McKendree University, and completed her graduate studies at Frontier Nursing University in 2016. Her clinical experience includes rotations across southern Illinois, where she developed a strong foundation in midwifery and OB/GYN care. Julie believes in providing evidence-based education and support that fosters confident, informed choices throughout pregnancy and birth.

Stephanie D. Gordon, CNM, FNP-BC, is a dedicated healthcare professional specializing in midwifery and women's health. She pursued her nursing education at Rend Lake College and McKendree University before advancing her expertise with a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2015 and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification from Bradley University in 2022. Passionate about prenatal care and low-intervention births, Stephanie's commitment to women's health stems from a profound experience in nursing school, where she supported a patient through labor and delivery. She believes in a patient-centered approach, emphasizing listening, support, and education. Outside of her profession, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, watching her children play sports, and vacationing in the mountains.

Being able to connect with patients and get to know them on a personal level is what drives Emily’s passion for Ob-Gyn. She sees each patient is a new challenge with an opportunity to leave a lasting impression with her care. Emily’s personal patient experience at Effingham Ob/Gyn inspired her to pursue a career in women’s health and later join the practice. Her knowledge about endometriosis and its impact on women's health allowed her to connect to other women affected by this condition and other women’s health issues.

Nichole (better known as Nicki) was inspired from an early age to enter the healthcare field. Watching her mother, a very dedicated nurse who served in many different hospital healthcare settings, Nicki developed a desire to serve others in a similar way. Nicki worked with the founding physicians at Effingham Ob/Gyn in her clinicals as a student Physician Assistant and made the decision to join the practice upon graduating from the program. She remembers names and birthdates of many of the patients she has assisted in delivering, as well as dates and details about many of the more interesting surgeries where she was first assistant. Nicki has also been instrumental as a mentor to many students and other PAs at the practice.