Dr. Praetzel is from Erie, Pennsylvania. He completed his oral and maxillofacial

surgery residency at the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San

Antonio, Texas, and he served for 13 years as an active duty surgeon with the U.S. Air

Force. Dr. Praetzel also founded the “Faces Foundation,” which is a non-profit

organization that provides facial surgery to correct cosmetic and functional deformities

for patients who otherwise would not be able to have surgery.