Foot and Ankle Associates of Lakeland

11/27/2025

We are thankful for patients like you! From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, healthy, and joyful Thanksgiving!

11/05/2025

Foot and Ankle Associates is excited to welcome Dr. Ripal Patel, DPM, to our Lakeland team! Dr. Patel is ABFAS board-certified in foot and ankle surgery and is a podiatrist with extensive training from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and Eastern Virginia Medical School. He brings a wealth of experience in treating conditions such as heel pain, bunions, fractures, sports injuries, and diabetic foot care—all with a compassionate, patient-centered approach.

Join us in giving Dr. Patel a warm welcome to Foot and Ankle Associates of Lakeland! We’re thrilled to have him on board as we continue providing the highest quality foot and ankle care to our community. 💙👟

To book an appointment, call us at (863) 687-3404.

10/30/2025

Dr. Matthew Werd and Dr. Ripal Patel from Foot and Ankle Associates had a great time connecting with students at the Florida Southern College Career & Graduate School Expo! In collaboration with Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine, they shared insights into exciting careers in podiatry, foot and ankle surgery, and sports medicine—and even gave live demonstrations of the latest ultrasound technology used in modern podiatric care. We’re always proud to support students who are passionate about helping others stay active, healthy, and on their feet!

10/22/2025

Dr. Matthew B. Werd of Foot & Ankle Associates recently returned from London after chairing the 3rd World Orthopedics Conference (Ortho 2025) hosted by Magnus Group. As a keynote speaker, he shared new insights on “Super Shoes and Athletics” and his trusted “Sports Medicine Pearls of the Foot and Ankle,” helping doctors treat sports-related injuries with confidence. The event gathered leading orthopedic experts from around the world to spotlight advances in patient care and research. Join us in applauding Dr. Werd for representing our community on the world stage. 🙌

11/02/2021

Check out Dr. Werd’s feature in the Lakeland Ledger under “Medical People & News.” Dr. Werd was featured for recently speaking at the annual meeting of the American College of Foot and Ankle Pediatrics held in Death Valley, California. His lecture topics included “Athletic Taping of Pediatric Athletes” and “Pediatric Sports Medicine.” 🦶🏼🥼

08/18/2021

On August 14th, Dr. Werd competed in the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race. This race is considered the SuperBowl of mountain biking. Check out PM news to learn more. Congratulations Dr. Werd!

12/21/2020

Check out RPM2 Sports Docs-Fitness in Medicine Podcasts to hear from Dr. Werd and 3 other podiatrists looking to improve athletic performances and foot health throughout the country. You can find their podcasts in the iTunes Store, the Podcasts App, and at the following link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rpm2-sports-docs-fitness-is-medicine/id1508623765

10/19/2020

Check out Podium Runner’s article, The Pandemic Injury Syndrome, to learn more about Dr. Werd’s RPM2 podcast and injuries caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Werd is featured in this article by discussing how people have either been stuck at home unable to exercise or people have increased their amount of exercise, resulting in injuries. These injuries have included stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendon issues. Read more to find out!

Doctors confirm, 2020 has caused an increase in runners getting injuries. Don't be one of them.

10/15/2020

Foot and Ankle Associates is a proud 3rd year sponsor of FSU Zeta Tau Alpa’s fall philanthropy, Race to Live. Race to Live is a virtual 5K supporting Breast Cancer Awareness and Education. We are encouraging all of our patients, friends, and staff to complete this event and support this cause! Swipe to see how to register! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

10/09/2020

The Votes Are In! Dr. Matthew B. Werd is one of the top three podiatrists nominated for “Best of Central Florida” awards! The winner will be announced virtually on 11/19/20. Make sure to watch and support Dr. Werd! ✨

10/07/2020

Welcome to our updated page!

We are so excited to share with you new health related articles, sports medical articles, upcoming race events occurring in our community, and updates about our office, our staff, and our doctors! Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram 🦶🏼👨🏻‍⚕️

10/07/2020

Welcome to our updated page!

We are so excited to share with you new health related articles, sports medical articles, upcoming race events occurring in our community, and updates about our office, our staff, and our doctors! Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram 🦶🏼👨🏻‍⚕️