Faculty

John Dorsey, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer, Vice President of Physician Services and DIO of Mercyhealth GME Consortium. He is a graduate of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and is board certified in internal medicine.

Dr. Dorsey completed his residency in internal medicine at Hershey Medical Center at Penn State University and a fellowship in geriatrics at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Dr. Konyak is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He is a graduate of the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India. Dr. Konyak completed OB/GYN residency and is board certified as Diplomat of National Board (DNB), India.

He completed his residency training in Family Medicine from In His Image Family Medicine Residency Program, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Prior to his move to Mercyhealth, Dr. Konyak taught at University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, as assistant professor of clinical family medicine. He practices full scope family medicine including obstetrics.

Sue Sweeney is the Graduate Medical Education Manager for Mercyhealth GME Consortium in Rockford. She is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and holds a Master’s Degree from the University of St. Francis in Health Services Administration. In addition to working in ACGME-accredited residencies, she has experience in health system operations, quality improvement, compliance and privacy.

Naomi Perez is a graduate of Rasmussen College where she received her BA in health care management and administration. She’s been a Mercyhealth partner since 2016 and enjoys her role as program coordinator for the Family Medicine Residency Program in Rockford. As program coordinator, she oversees daily administrative duties for residents and faculty and assists the program director in accreditation, education and supporting the residents.

Medical School: University of Illinois-Rockford
Residency: Family Medicine, Mercyhealth, Wisconsin

"I love the family in family medicine. I enjoy the opportunity to work with all ages and treat people with a wide range of conditions. I believe that medical care should be a partnership between the patient and the doctor. I want to work with my patients to provide comprehensive care based on their goals and the most up-to-date medical recommendations."

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University
Residency: Family Medicine, Chicago/Christ Hospital, Illinois

"I treat all my patients as if they were an immediate family member. I listen to their concerns, analyze their information and then offer treatment options. This allows them to participate in the decision-making process. I respect their preferences and try to treat all patients equally and fairly. I treat and love to work with all age groups."

Medical School: Midwestern University-Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Downers Grove, IL
Residency: Family Medicine, Presence Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago
Fellowship: Sports Medicine, Presence Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago

"Medicine is more than just treating a patient. It is about building connections and being able to place myself in their shoes. My goal is to help my patients obtain a healthy lifestyle and to maximize each and every one of their medical potentials. I believe that in order to treat a person, you have to treat their whole being, both mentally and physically. I have a passion for sports medicine and I am excited to bring that part of my training to the program."

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Residency: Family Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin

"I enjoy taking care of families and contributing to their overall health. I would like all of my patients to feel that they were treated in a caring and professional manner."

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Downers Grove, IL
Residency: Presence Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Fellowship: Sports Medicine: Presence Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, IL

"Being anyone’s physician is truly a privilege, one that I am immensely grateful for. I believe that with every patient interaction, I will not just be treating a patient, moreover, I will be building a lifelong bond with another person, learning from them as much as helping them with their health overall. Our mental, emotional, and physical well-being is a gift and I would like to team up with my patients to optimize this precious gift using family medicine and sports medicine."

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University
Residency: Family Medicine, Midwestern University, Illinois

"My most important role is to help others achieve their most comfortable, productive life and their best potential. Educating my patients and developing a collaborative relationship with them promotes this. My patients appreciate this type of working relationship, especially when I listen and incorporate what they have to say into their plan of care. People tend to better follow their plan of care when they contributed to it."

Medical School: Medical College of Georgia-College of Medicine, Augusta
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago
Fellowship: Simulation Education, University of Illinois at Chicago

"I feel honored to be trained in medicine. All of science—everything from pasteurization to vaccines—is based on each scientist making a discovery and adding to the bank of knowledge by which humanity can go on improving itself. This knowledge belongs to all of us, and I practice as such. I show my patients that I truly care for them by applying this knowledge in the same way I would want it applied for the care of my own mother.

I particularly enjoy using ultrasound. My fellowship in simulation/education at the University of Illinois in Chicago involved teaching medical students how to do new calculations and techniques using ultrasound."

Graduate School: Master of Social Work: Aurora University, Aurora, IL
Doctor of Philosophy: The Institute of Clinical Social Work, Chicago

Dr. Barnes is a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to her educational background, she has almost 30 years of combined professional experience practicing in agencies, hospitals, private practice and schools. She spent the past 14 years integrating psychotherapy with experiential, nutritional and body-centered interventions. This is treatment that seeks to go beyond talk therapy by incorporating techniques that tap into regulating bodily responses to stress and trauma.

“I seek to understand patients’ subjective experiences because responses to stress and trauma may vary from individual to individual. My hope is that through this understanding, patients can feel seen and heard.”

Medical School: Rush Medical College, Chicago
Residencies: Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Missouri at Columbia Hospitals, Columbia

Medical School: Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Fairborn, OH
Residency: Internal Medicine, Wright State University, Fairborn, OH

Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University: Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago Family Medicine Program, Chicago

"As a physician, I strive to provide a holistic approach to patient care that meets the diverse health needs of patients and families. I recognize the importance of addressing the multiple components that can affect a patient’s life and, in turn, their health. Excellent communication between the medical care team and the patient is vital in both providing optimal medical treatment and ensuring patient comfort. By listening and communicating well with a patient, I hope to address social and cultural issues that may arise as well as their medical needs."