Dr Tuffley graduated from the University of Queensland in1973, gaining first class honours in Dental Science and then went on to complete his Medical and specialist Oral and Maxilla facial training, primarily at Royal Brisbane Hospital. Dr Tuffley has been active in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery private practice since 1985. His current research is through the Centre for Clinical Research at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals. It broadly involves the modulation of tissue responses through biochemical means, specifically complex nutritional mixtures.

Dr Tuffley currently teaches at the University of Queensland Dental School together with acting as external examiner, Oral Surgery and Medicine at the University of Sydney, Westmead, for the past 8 years.