
Overview
Brenda I. Cardenas, MSN, APRN, PNP-PC, earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Adventist University of Health Sciences in Orlando, Fla., in 2002. She received her master’s degree in nursing from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., in 2013. Brenda worked as a registered nurse at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children for 12 years and is currently with the Arnold Palmer Hospital Center for Digestive Health and Nutrition. Brenda has national certification in pediatric practice by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). She is also a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and the Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses (APGNN).
Her clinical expertise encompasses Painful Swallowing and Swallowing Difficulty.
Specialties
Licenses
Languages Spoken
Gender
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- PPO
- HMO
- POS
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- PPO
- OTHER MANAGED MEDICAID
- OTHER MEDICAID
- STATE MEDICAID
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- EPO
- HMO
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Locations
1001 E. Osceola Pkwy., Suite 3400, Kissimmee, FL 34744
60 W. Gore St., Orlando, FL 32806
Nemours Children's Hospital
James Franciosi is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist practicing medicine in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Franciosi is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Esophagitis, Lactose Intolerance, and Malnutrition. Dr. Franciosi is currently accepting new patients.
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children Center For Digestive Health And Nutrition - Spring Lake
Shaista Safder, MD, is a graduate of the Deccan College of Medical Science in India. She completed her pediatric residency training at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where she also served as chief resident. During her residency, she was awarded membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.Dr. Safder has been with the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Center for Digestive Health and Nutrition since 2009 and currently serves as director of the Motility Center at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer. In 2015, she became a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and leads the Healthy Lifestyles Program at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.Dr. Safder’s interest includes motility disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis, allergic gastro enteropathies, defecation disorders, obesity medicine and medical education. Dr. Safder is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Neurogenic Bowel, Bowel Incontinence, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and Syndactyly Cenani Lenz Type. Dr. Safder is board certified in American Board Of Pediatrics - Gastroenterology and American Board Of Pediatrics. Dr. Safder is currently accepting new patients.
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children Center For Digestive Health And Nutrition - Downtown Orlando
Yamen Smadi, MD, graduated from Damascus University in Syria and completed his pediatric residency at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, Mich., in 2008. After finishing his residency, he spent four years at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., as chief of the pediatric hospitalist section and helped to establish the residency program at the University of South Dakota where he served as a core faculty member. He finished his pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition fellowship at the University of Florida pediatric fellowship program at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2015. Dr. Smadi currently serves as a staff physician and director of the Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic at the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Center for Digestive Health and Nutrition. Dr. Smadi has research interest in Eosinophilic Esophagitis and he is currently working on developing a non-invasive method to diagnose and monitor the disease. Dr. Smadi is an active member of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and American Society of Gastroentestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Dr. Smadi is highly rated in 5 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Esophagitis, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, Endoscopy, and Tissue Biopsy. Dr. Smadi is board certified in American Board Of Pediatrics - Gastroenterology and American Board Of Pediatrics. Dr. Smadi is currently accepting new patients.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brenda Cardenas, NP
How do I make an appointment with Brenda Cardenas, NP?
You can book an appointment with Brenda Cardenas, NP by calling their office at 321-841-3338. MediFind provides direct contact information so you can schedule visits, second opinions, or consultations without navigating third-party calendars.
Is Brenda Cardenas, NP a top-rated expert for Painful Swallowing?
MediFind is an objective health platform that identifies experts based on real-world data. Brenda Cardenas, NP is classified as an Experienced expert for Painful Swallowing, meaning they are among the top experts in the country for this condition. This ranking is based on their volume of patients, published research, and peer connections.
What conditions does Brenda Cardenas, NP specialize in?
While Brenda Cardenas, NP is a Pediatric Gastroenterology, they have specific expertise in Painful Swallowing, Swallowing Difficulty. MediFind analyzes a doctor's articles and referral patterns to identify their specific areas of focus within Pediatric Gastroenterology.
Does Brenda Cardenas, NP accept my insurance?
Brenda Cardenas, NP accepts most major insurance plans, including Aetna and Anthem BCBS. We recommend calling the office directly at 321-841-3338 to verify that your specific plan is currently accepted before your visit.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Experienced
- Painful SwallowingCardenas, NP isExperienced. Learn about Painful Swallowing.
- Swallowing DifficultyCardenas, NP isExperienced. Learn about Swallowing Difficulty.

