Claims

PPM’s expertise in defending exclusively anesthesia-related medical malpractice claims distinguishes us from all other medical malpractice carriers. Our unrivaled anesthesia-specific focus is driven by the unique composition of our Claims Department, comprised of Claims Attorneys and Claims Specialists with over 100 combined years of experience handling anesthesia claims. Since 1987, PPM policyholders have reported over 17,000 adverse outcomes, including a combination of more than 6,600 anesthesia claims and lawsuits. At any given time, the Claims Department maintains an active caseload of nearly 400 files, the majority of which are in active litigation.

Aggressive Defense & Anesthesia Claims Expertise

• PPM has 36 years of vetting local, medical malpractice focused defense attorneys
• Our Claims Department has cultivated an extensive list of nationally recognized experts to assist with the defense of our anesthesia providers
• PPM receives defense verdicts in over 90% of those cases that proceed to trial
• PPM recently won its 44th consecutive defense verdict for an upper extremity nerve damage claim
• PPM has never settled a claim without the policyholder’s consent

You Can Reach Us

• A member of PPM’s claims team is available via phone 24/7
• PPM’s 36-year history of serving anesthesia practices has shaped our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to the evolving needs of our anesthesia providers
• PPM’s Claims Department frequently assists with medical board complaints, contract review, indemnification agreements, informed consent review and many other unique special service projects
• PPM’s Claims Attorneys have conducted over 500 risk management presentations for our policyholders and produces our flagship risk management newsletter, Anesthesia & the Law, which is currently in its 26th year of publication
  
  

PPM’s Claims Department

Wade D. Willard, JD -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Willard was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of PPM in November 2017. Mr. Willard joined Preferred Physicians Medical in 1997 and was promoted to Senior Claims Attorney in 2000. In 2008 Mr. Willard assumed responsibility of the Claims Department as the Claims Department Supervisor and was promoted to Vice President-Claims in 2010. In 2025, Mr. Willard was elected to continue as President and to the office of Chief Executive Director. As President and CEO, Mr. Willard is responsible for PPM's overall insurance operation as well as executing the Company's short and long term strategies for growing its business while maintaining the company's high underwriting standards and focus on the needs of the anesthesia specialty. In addition, he continues to manage the customary operations of the Claims Department. Mr. Willard regularly speaks at national and regional society meetings and conducts on-site risk management seminars.

Mr. Willard is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law. Prior to joining Preferred Physicians Medical in 1997, he clerked for the Kansas Medical Society and Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Company.

Brian J. Thomas, JD
Vice President-Claims and Risk Management
Mr. Thomas joined PPM in 1999 and was promoted to Vice President-Risk Management in October 2015. In 2022, Mr. Thomas was promoted to Vice President-Claims and Risk Management. With over thirty years of insurance industry experience, Mr. Thomas has focused the past twenty-five years exclusively on providing risk management services to anesthesia providers and defending high severity medical negligence litigation. Mr. Thomas is also editor of PPM’s risk management newsletter, Anesthesia & the Law. Mr. Thomas was elected to the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Board of Directors in 2019, and serves on the APSF Corporate Advisory Council.

Mr. Thomas has authored or co-authored in several prominent publications, including international, national, and state anesthesia journals such as Anesthesia & Analgesia, ASA Monitor, APSF Newsletter, Communique and Scope. Mr. Thomas has conducted over 300 on-site and virtual risk management seminars and frequently lectures on anesthesia risk management topics for national, regional, and state medical society meetings and other health care organizations.

Mr. Thomas is a 1995 graduate of Washburn University School of Law. Prior to joining PPM, he served as in-house counsel to several national insurance companies where his duties included the management and supervision of claims and litigation.

Tracey Dujakovich, JD -- Lead Claims Professional and Risk Advisor
Ms. Dujakovich joined PPM in 2010. Ms. Dujakovich is responsible for handling a wide range of cases in the eastern United States with a concentration in New Jersey and New York. As a Lead Claims Professional and Risk Advisor, she is responsible for the overall strategy and day-to-day management of files, including directing settlement discussions and attending trials. Ms. Dujakovich is also active in PPM’s risk management efforts conducting on-site and virtual risk management seminars.

Ms. Dujakovich is a 1991 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Prior to joining PPM, Ms. Dujakovich managed multi-specialty claims for five years with the Illinois State Medical Insurance Exchange. Ms. Dujakovich also worked in private practice for five years defending general liability and medical malpractice lawsuits.

Paul Lefebvre, JD -- Lead Claims Professional and Risk Advisor
Mr. Lefebvre joined PPM in 2018. As a Lead Claims Professional and Risk Advisor, Mr. Lefebvre manages moderate and high severity claim and litigation files for anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified anesthesiologist assistants, and anesthesia practices located in more than two dozen states. Mr. Lefebvre is also involved in PPM’s risk management program, conducting on-site and virtual seminars and serves as a patient safety resource for anesthesia professionals across the country.

Mr. Lefebvre is a member of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation’s (APSF) Editorial Board, Medication Safety Patient Safety Priority Advisory Group, and Corporate Advisory Council. Mr. Lefebvre contributes to PPM’s risk management newsletter, Anesthesia & the Law, and has authored articles in the APSF Newsletter.

Mr. Lefebvre is a 2010 graduate of Saint Louis University Law School, where he attained certificates in health law and clinical health care ethics. Prior to joining PPM, Mr. Lefebvre served as General Counsel for the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.

Chris Edwards, JD -- Senior Claims Professional and Risk Advisor
Mr. Edwards joined PPM in 2024. As a Senior Claims Professional and Risk Advisor, Mr. Edwards manages claims and litigation files and provides risk management support to PPM insureds.

Mr. Edwards is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Prior to joining PPM, Mr. Edwards was a licensed property and casualty producer focused on specialty insurance products including medical malpractice, professional liability, employment practices liability, and cyber liability. In that role, Mr. Edwards worked extensively with health professionals and law firms.

Judy Simon, JD, RN -- Senior Claims Professional and Risk Advisor
Ms. Simon joined PPM in 2021. As a Senior Claims Professional and Risk Advisor, Ms. Simon manages claims and litigation files along with providing risk management support and guidance to PPM insureds. Ms. Simon is also active in PPM’s risk management efforts conducting on-site and virtual risk management seminars.

Ms. Simon obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Research College of Nursing. Ms. Simon brings years of litigation experience in private practice along with her experience in healthcare as a registered nurse.