Dr. Elida Benitez is a Polk Count native and current Gainesville resident. She earned her BSN (2008) and DNP (2015) degrees from the University of Florida College of Nursing.

Her nursing background is mainly in adult-gerontology critical care and she is a current member of the surgical critical care team at UF Health. She is a proud advocate for advance practice providers sitting as active co-chair of the APP Council at UF Health. Most recently, she shares the role of track coordinator for the adult-gerontology acute care DNP program at the UF College of Nursing.

She is passionate in providing exceptional care for her critically ill patients and their families, teaching those around her, and living out her faith in her daily practices.

Elida spends her spare time enjoying leisure time with close friends and family. She enjoys latin dancing and being physically active, her cats, and recently started a new gardening hobby.