Dr. Gaston de Cardenas was born in La Habana, Cuba. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Colegio Champagnat in La Habana. He completed his internship and surgical residency at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida.Dr. De Cardenas completed his Otolarynygology residency at the University of Tennessee. He served his military obligation as a Major in the US Army, as Chief Surgeon in the 23rd Medical Battalion, Republic of Vietnam from April 1969 to May 1971.
He received the following military awards:
- 1969 Vietnam Campaign Medical
- 1969 Combat Medical Batch, Republic of Vietnam
- 1969 Bronze Medal for the Republic of Vietnam
- 1969/1970 Bronze Medal, First Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam
- 1971 Department of Defense Joint Service Commendation Medal
Dr. Cardenas is a member of many boards, including the Pediatric Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology General Otolarynogology, and Facial Plastic Surgery. He holds fellowships with Fellow American Academy of Otolaryngology, Fellow American College of Surgeons and Fellow Pediatric Society in Exile. His editorial activities and scientific publications include Pediatric World Congress, Management of Otitis in Children, and IV Congress in Otolaryngology. Dr. Cardenas has past and present membership on several extramural committees. Since 1984, he has served as the Division Chief of Otolaryngology at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.