Florida Craniofacial Institute is a comprehensive oral and maxillofacial surgical center. We use state-of-the-art x-ray equipment that delivers very low dose radiation, and is completely digital so we can email images to other doctors in our patients care. We use digital photography and document patient progress in our computerized database. Our surgical suites are completely outfitted with the most modern equipment for your safety and comfort.

Dr. Ricalde did her subspecialty training in pediatric craniofacial surgery. Her area of expertise is the management of children with facial differences, and jaw deformities. Even though all of our doctors have different backgrounds and different subspecialty training, we believe there are no shortcuts when it comes to training and education. Any doctor who performs surgery in the mouth or face needs to be trained with dental, medical, and surgical knowledge and have experience in managing complications that may arise from those conditions.

We are contracted with most insurance plans and our staff will assist with complicated insurance issues to ensure any financial obligations are minimized. Dr. Ricalde and the Florida Craniofacial Institute team also firmly believe in minimizing unnecessary tests and procedures, decreasing risks and costs of care. We are proud to be a team here at Florida Craniofacial Institute and look forward to meeting you or your loved one.

Our office is centrally located in Tampa, Florida, near Raymond James Stadium and St. Josephs Hospital, with easy access off of I-275. Our second office is located in Clearwater, Florida off Ulmerton Road. We welcome you to come visit our state-of-the-art facility.

Pat Ricalde, DDS, MD, FACS is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, specializing in cleft and craniofacial surgery. She is from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She completed her undergraduate training at Eastern Michigan University, then attended both dental and medical school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Dr. Ricalde continued her education in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Maryland. She then completed a fellowship with Dr. Jeffrey C. Posnick in Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery. Dr. Ricalde is Board Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. Ricalde is the author of numerous publications, and lectures both nationally and internationally on the subject of pediatric craniofacial anomalies. She is the lead investigator in clinical research projects to improve surgical care for patients, and is an assistant professor at the University of South Florida. She is also the Director of the Fellowship for Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery at the Florida Craniofacial Institute, and the Director of Tampa Bay Cleft and Craniofacial Center.

She has volunteered with many international non-profit organizations, and is the founding Board Member of Every Smile Has A Story, a Tampa Bay non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of children with facial differences.

Victoria Palermo, MD, DDS is an Oral Maxillofacial and Pediatric Craniofacial surgeon. She is a graduate of State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, where she received Magna Cum Laude designation.

Dr. Palermo completed her Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, where she also pursued her medical degree at Thomas Jefferson Medical College and completed a post-graduate internship in General Surgery. Her training and experience include the management of orthognathic and obstructive sleep apnea cases, in addition to a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Palermo brings multifaceted experience in the surgical management of cleft and craniofacial patients, orthognathic surgery cases, surgical management of trauma, resection of benign tumors of the head and neck with emphasis on reconstruction, as well as implant rehabilitation, with strengths in virtual case analysis and planning, among others. She is board certified in Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial surgery. Her attention to detail and empathy with children are skills unmatched.

Dr. Palermos experience includes rotations at Nemours Alfred I. Dupont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE, where she fostered her love of and dedication to helping pediatric patients. Dr. Palermo is also passionate about providing medical care to underserved populations and has participated in medical, dental and surgical missions to the Appalachian region of the US, Mexico and Vietnam. She is a surgical team member of the Tampa Bay Cleft and Craniofacial Center.

Alfred Tennant, DDS is the only fellowship trained, Board Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist in the Tampa Bay area. He is one of a small handful with this advanced training in the entire state of Florida.

Originally from Puerto Rico, his training began in New Orleans by completing undergraduate training at Loyola University, and then his doctorate at LSU School of Dentistry. He went on to complete a 2-year fellowship at the prestigious Parker Mahan Craniofacial Pain Center at the University of Florida. He served in the US Navy, had his own private dental practice, and was assistant clinical professor at LSU School of Medicine, Shreveport, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, before joining the Florida Craniofacial Institute.

Dr. Tennants calm and meticulous nature, blended with his in-depth knowledge base, has allowed him to excel in the management of this very challenging subset of patients. He now limits his practice to helping patients with orofacial pain and sleep disorders. Common conditions he treats include TMJ/ TMD, the many types of headaches, bite problems, nerve pain, joint problems, burning mouth, dystonia, and the aftereffects of head, neck, or face trauma. Although some conditions clearly benefit from surgical intervention, most are best managed non-surgically and conservatively. He believes in holistic care with the avoidance of narcotics. He has many tools in his armamentarium, and works with many specialists to provide individualized care, including Botox, physical therapy, oral appliances, behavioral therapy, localized injections, acupuncture, as well as a wide range of medications.

Many patients, some who have no pain, present with sleep disorders such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Tennant is an expert in the management of oral appliances to help manage these conditions, occasionally in collaboration with our surgeons.

Before moving to Florida, he lived in Brooklyn, New York. He completed his undergraduate education at University of Florida, then obtained his DMD at Nova Southeastern University where he graduated at the top of his class. He then went on to do residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at prestigious MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington DC. During his residency he rotated at top healthcare facilities such as Johns Hopkins University and The National Institute of Health. The surgical residency had a strong focus on orthognathic surgery, facial trauma, and maxillofacial pathology. After graduating residency, he did a facial cosmetics fellowship at Baptist Golden Triangle Hospital where he trained under Dr. John Griffin to learn techniques in facial aesthetic surgery such as facelifts, blepharoplasties, otoplasties, Botox, fillers, and other cosmetic procedures.

Dr. Kalsow brings a unique aspect to the practice. He is trained in oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as facial cosmetic surgery, putting him in a position to treat the aesthetics of the face. He excels in dentoalveolar surgery and dental implants, but loves working with patients to enhance facial aesthetics with botox, fillers and surgical options.In his free time, he likes fishing, outdoors activities, and cooking.

Dr. Mohamed El-Rabbany is an Oral Maxillofacial and Pediatric Craniofacial Surgeon. Raised in Canada, Dr. El-Rabbany completed his undergraduate studies at McMaster University, completing an Honors Bachelor of Biological Sciences degree. Following this, he completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Toronto, where he was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gordon Cressy Award in Leadership and the Joseph Harker Johnson Award in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. El-Rabbany then went on to complete his residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Toronto. His surgical education provided Dr. El-Rabbany with training in the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, with particular expertise in TMJ, corrective jaw surgery, facial trauma, and maxillofacial reconstructive and implant surgeries. Following his residency, Dr. El-Rabbany moved to the United States, where he received advanced training in the form of a fellowship in Pediatric Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery. Dr. El-Rabbanys unique combination of expertise allows him to treat patients of all ages, practicing the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

In addition to his surgical practice, Dr. El-Rabbany also has a passion for research. Having completed both his Masters and PhD degrees in Clinical Epidemiology from McMaster University and the University of Toronto respectively, Dr. El-Rabbany continues to enrich his practice by contributing to the scientific literature. To date, Dr. El-Rabbany has authored numerous scientific publications as well as lectured both nationally and internationally. He is also a member of the Tampa Bay Cleft and Craniofacial Center.