Originally from Cuba, Dr. Hernandez emigrated to Miami as a teenager, where he completed high school before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He rose to the rank of Sergeant and served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. While the military, he attended community college and later earned his Bachelor’s in Science from Florida International University. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his General Surgery residency at the University of South Florida. After his surgical training, he worked as a Trauma and Emergency General Surgeon before returning to Sarasota with his wife, Remie.