Grace L Benmhend MD
I grew up in Michigan, Connecticut, and Wisconsin before moving to Gainesville, FL in high school. I completed my BA in Medical Anthropology at UF and my MD at USF. I’m thrilled to be coming back home! My medical passions include global health, refugee care, and integrative medicine. I chose UF to be closer to my family and friends and because I loved the clinic first program and the people I met during my interview. In my free time, I love reading, traveling the world, and hiking and kayaking around Gainesville.
Thomas D Clem DO
I was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area and I am proud to be a seventh generation Floridian. I graduated magna cum laude from The University of South Florida with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology before attending Nova Southeastern University for medical school. My foundation for becoming a doctor was rooted in my desire to serve others in need. I am particularly interested in full spectrum family medicine and sports medicine. In my free time I am a devout Tampa Bay sports fan, intermediate woodworker, mediocre gardener, and dad joke enthusiast. My family and I are thrilled to join the CHFM family… Go Gators!
Sarah E Covey MD
I am from Orlando, FL, but went to Waco, TX to get my undergraduate degree in Biology from Baylor University (Sic ‘Em Bears!). I attended UT Houston and University of Kentucky for my MD and MPH. I initially trained in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Dermatology before finding my home in Family Medicine. I enjoy the breadth of practice that Family Medicine offers. I am especially interested in women’s health, breastfeeding medicine, cutaneous pathologies, and using my procedural training to help my patients. Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my family- my husband, toddler, and baby, as well as traveling, reading (or listening) to a good book, and going to Disney World and Universal Studios.
Barbara L Durden MD
I am the rare thing known as a 3rd generation Floridian and while my family is from Tampa, FL I spent my childhood in Bradenton, FL living out in the countryside. I did both my Undergraduate and Medical school at the University of South Florida and am happy to be in Gainesville where I feel right at home with the small town feel of the city. I have a great interest in rural and underserved medicine as well as an interest in dermatology as I feel this is an often-underrepresented area in the rural communities. I chose UF because of the level of education, volunteer opportunities, as well as the close feel of everyone at the program and look forward to my time here! In my free time I enjoy cross-stitching, hiking, and spending time with my cats.
Chris J Lindeman MD
I was born in Colorado and lived there until moving to Nebraska in high school. In Nebraska, I attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln for undergraduate and then attended the University of Nebraska for medical school. I was eager to explore a new environment for residency and am very grateful to have matched at UF. Overall, UF was a great fit for me and what I desired in a residency. The emphasis on outpatient medicine to the numerous opportunities available at a large, well-known academic medical institution like UF are what especially stood out to me. I have specific interests in Family Medicine in LGBTQ+ health, HIV prevention and treatment, general preventative health and patient education, and underserved medicine and advocacy. Outside of medicine, I enjoy running and exercising, listening to music, attending concerts, video games, food, and spending time with my three cats.
Daniel L McElroy MD
I was born and raised in Orlando. I receive my undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the University of Florida. I returned home for medical school at the University of Central Florida. I grew up as a Gator. I am excited to be back at UF and Gainesville for residency. I enjoy the wide scope of Family Medicine. I have interests in nutrition and preventative medicine. My hobbies include cooking and spending time outdoors with my wife and son.
Jonathan P Rongo DO
I traveled all over the place as a kid, but I have always considered Florida to be my home. I was born in Maryland and moved to different states but finally settled in Florida where I proceeded to do most of my education here. I graduated from medical school at Nova in Davie, Florida. The main things I love to do during my free time are cooking, exploring, and exercising. I actually used to be a part time cook in college and one thing I love from that experience is to be able to bring together people through good food and vibes. My main goals as a physician are to improve health outcomes in food deserts and to better people’s outlook on what it means to eat and live healthy. It was hard to choose which residency to go to, but the main thing I prioritized was a program that truly cares for its residents. I’m glad I got into my top choice because UF truly stood out as a place where you know you are in good hands. So far, everyone has been so supportive and friendly. I am looking forward to these next upcoming years for whatever challenges I face because I know I have both faculty and co-residents I can trust to help me along the way.
Konstantinos Sebekos MD
I was born in Miami, Florida, where I completed medical school training at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Prior to medical school, I worked as a biomedical engineer in the orthopedic industry. I completed two years of general surgery training at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, and a burn fellowship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. I was also involved in research leading to oral presentations at peer-reviewed forums and multiple publications. I am excited to return to my home state and be a part of the UF Family Medicine Program. I chose family medicine because of my interest in preventative care, treating the whole person, and the opportunity to form lifelong relationships with those I treat. In my free time, I enjoy kayaking, biking, traveling, and being outdoors.
Tabitha Xia-Zhu DO
I am excited to be back in Gainesville as a UF CHFM resident and work alongside the knowledgeable and compassionate faculty, staff, and residents to serve the Gainesville community. I grew up in Gainesville and completed my undergraduate education at UF. I moved to New York to complete my graduate studies at Columbia University, then returned to Florida to complete my medical training at Nova Southeastern University. During medical school, I was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, and I was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for my clinical research with faculty on adult coronary heart disease mortality. Throughout my higher education, I stayed involved in local and global service projects for underserved populations and developed my medical interest in primary care medicine. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the piano, traveling, cooking, and drawing.