Anesthesia Patient Safety Program 2024: A Review of Closed Claims

Dr. T.J. Tejera joined Southwest Florida Oral and Facial Surgery in March of 2003, after he and his family decided to return to his home state of Florida. Dr. Tejera was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba and grew up in Miami, Florida, therefore, is fluent in both English and Spanish. He attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama before going on to earn both dental (D.M.D.) and medical (M.D.) degrees from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, respectively.  

Dr. Tejera completed an internship in General Surgery and residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals. During his final year of surgical training at UNC, he served as the Chief Resident of the Oral and Maxillofacial Service. Following residency, Dr. Tejera pursued fellowship training in General Cosmetic Surgery at Carolina Surgical Arts in Greensboro, North Carolina. During his subspecialty fellowship program, Dr. Tejera received extensive, formal, didactic and clinical training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  

After his fellowship, Dr. Tejera accepted a position at Carolina Surgical Arts where he practiced the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Tejera maintained an active full scope practice with an emphasis in Facial Cosmetic Surgery, reconstructive surgery of the facial skeleton and corrective jaw (orthognathic) surgery. In 2003, he became Board Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.  

Dr. Tejera’s current clinical practice is focused on cosmetic facial surgery, orthognathic surgery, facial reconstructive surgery, sleep apnea medicine and its related surgical treatments, dental implants, and All-on-4® treatment.  Dr. Tejera is also very active in providing care to patients with facial trauma, including a broad range of facial fractures and soft tissue injuries, through the Lee Memorial Health System Trauma Program. -- In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Tejera has contributed to more than five surgical textbooks, published scientific articles and presented his work at national meetings. Dr. Tejera has been recognized as one of the pioneers in Orthognathic Virtual Surgical Planning and is invited to present the use of Digital Planning Workflow at multiple national conferences each year. He is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Clinical Interest Group on Cosmetic Maxillofacial Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.  

In 2012, Dr. Tejera was appointed an examiner of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ABOMS) and will serve a six year term.  In addition, he was elected to be the Section I Editor of ABOMS for the upcoming year.  Dr. Tejera joined Nova Southeastern University as an Associate Professor starting with the 2012-2013 academic year.  Also in 2012, Dr. Tejera was elected to be Secretary of the Medical Executive Committee of Lee Memorial Hospital System and Treasurer of the Florida Society of OMS (FSOMS).   

Most recently, Dr. Tejera was re-appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Florida Board of Dentistry for an additional 3 year term, until October 31, 2021.  He was appointed for his first term by the Governor on March 28, 2014.  Dr. Tejera is pleased to serve the Florida Board of Dentistry as Chair for 2018.  The Florida Society of OMS (FSOMS) awarded Dr. Tejera the Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of his service to the Florida Board of Dentistry. 

Dr. Jason E. Portnof is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). His interests include the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery with an emphasis on the correction of dentofacial deformities, orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery), maxillofacial reconstructive surgery, corrective jaw surgery (for TMJ), oral and maxillofacial pathology, and complex dental implantology.

Dr. Portnof graduated with honors from the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale. He also earned an MD from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, where he was trained in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He received fellowship training in pediatric maxillofacial surgery/craniomaxillofacial surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Portnof is Past President of the Florida Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and Florida Cleft Palate Association. He is a board examiner for the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Portnof has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and presented both nationally and internationally.

Mr. Coles received his undergraduate degree from Emory University in 1984, where he was the recipient of a National Merit Scholarship in each of his four years. He received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1987, where he was the recipient of the Milton Rattner Scholarship for academic achievement. He has been representing the oral surgery community for more than 30 years.

Mr. Coles practiced in the litigation section of Smith, Gambrell & Russell from 1987 to 2009, where he was an equity partner. While at Smith, Gambrell, Mr. Coles developed a specialty representing doctors, hospitals and other healthcare professionals in malpractice claims, licensure proceedings and with regard to credentialing issues. In 2009, Mr. Coles and his law partner, Tom Barton, left Smith, Gambrell to form the law firm of Coles Barton LLP.

Mr. Coles has tried to verdict many malpractice claims and has successfully defended on appeal numerous favorable trial victories. He also has substantial experience representing clients in mediations and arbitrations.