Dr. Werd is the Chief of Podiatric Surgery at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He is Board Certified in both Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. Dr. Werd serves as a Director of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, lecturing nationally on sports medicine topics throughout the year.

Dr. Werd maintains his cutting-edge knowledge of lower extremity care by actively participating in local, state, and national surgical and sports medicine seminars and courses throughout the year. He has served on the Journal Review Committee of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and also serves on the Clinic Advisory Board of the American Running and Fitness Association.

He completed a distinguished AO International Fellowship in Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery in Davos, Switzerland, and Lahr, Germany. This is a highly competitive and sought-after Fellowship, which is awarded to physicians who have exhibited excellence in their clinical and research specialties.

Dr. Werd finished his surgical residency training under the expertise of his residency director, Dr. Keith B. Kashuk, who is an internationally known lecturer, author, and physician. Under the direction of Dr. Kashuk, Dr. Werd actively participated in the care of athletes and coaches from the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, the University of Miami sports teams, and many others.

Dr. Werd graduated medical school in Chicago with Magna Cum Laude Honors from SCPM, finishing in the top 10 % of his graduating class. He also completed an undergraduate Research Fellowship, studying human performance in an orthopedic gait analysis laboratory. Dr. Werd has lectured nationally and internationally, and has multiple publications regarding his expertise of the lower extremity.

Dr. Werd completed his undergraduate studies with a Double Major, a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in Biology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Indiana University in Bloomington. Also, he completed a year of pre-med biology courses and laboratory studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He graduated from a prestigious class 6A high school, Glenbrook North, in Northbrook, Illinois where he was Captain of his Varsity Football and Wrestling teams.

Sports Medicine injuries of the lower extremity originally interested Dr. Werd in foot and ankle care. Today this remains his primary focus, along with Reconstructive Surgery of the Foot, Ankle, and Leg.

Dr. Werd serves as Medical Director at Florida Southern College for for the Athletic Training Program. Dr. Werd is one of two team podiatrists for the Tampa Bay Mutiny Major League Soccer Team, and he assists in the care of the New York Yankees Spring Training Baseball Team. He also teaches a 3-hour advanced athletic training course to athletic training students at The University of Tampa.

Dr. Werd is currently serving a 2-year term as a Board Member on the Board of Directors of The Arthritis Foundation, Gulf Coast Chapter.

He has also served as President of the Lakeland Runners Club, and he is the Race Director of Lakeland's premier road race, the MayFaire 5K Classic.

He enjoys volunteering for numerous other events throughout the year, including Medical Staff volunteer for the Gasparilla Distance Classic, the Sunshine State Games, and high school sports physical screenings. Dr. Werd provided medical coverage for the Inaugural Tampa Marathon, December 10, 2000.

Dr. Werd enjoys spending his free time with his wife, son and daughter. They are members of Resurrection Catholic Church in South Lakeland.

Dr. Werd remains very active in sports, including running, triathlon, rollerblading, weight-training, golf, tennis and many other sports. He ran the Disney World Marathon and the Chicago Marathon in 1999, and successfully finished the grand-daddy of all marathons, the 2000 Boston Marathon. He has also completed over 20 triathlons of varying distances.

Dr. Werd is the author of the newly-released book entitled FOOT! Care, Prevention, and Treatment. Please go to www.FootBook.net for more information and to order.