Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., welcomes Laura Werner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, to its surgery department. Werner specializes in lameness and equine emergency services and she is returning to Hagyard after having previously spent a year there as a surgical intern during her advanced training.

"I feel like it is family there," said Werner. "I will be joining my instructor from when I was a student at Auburn and I did an internship there, so I am excited to go back and enjoy everything I experienced when I was an intern."

Werner grew up riding horses and always had an interest in becoming a veterinarian. She attended the University of Kentucky before transferring to Auburn University to complete her DVM degree. She fulfilled her residency at The Ohio State University and eventually became a staff surgeon at The Equine Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

In addition to her experience as a surgeon, Werner has worked as a Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Veterinary Delegate at some of the top three-day eventing competitions in the nation