BROWARD AND SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTIES DIVISION
Neil H Strauss, DPM, FABFAS, FACFAS, CWS, FACCWS, FAPWCA
Dr. Neil H. Strauss is President & CEO of AFAWS and was raised in Beaver County, a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA where he graduated with high honors at the Kiski School for Boys (’93), Saltsburg, PA which is the oldest, all-male boarding school in America. He then earned his Bachelor’s in Science in Biology (’97) from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA
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In 1999, Dr. Strauss enrolled at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, and then transferred to Barry University School of Graduate Sciences, Miami, FL with the intent to practice in Florida.
In 2003, Dr. Strauss earned his Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine (DPM) from Barry University where he then completed two years of surgical residency training at West Chester General Hospital in Miami, FL.
Upon successful completion of his residency in 2005, Dr. Strauss joined Dr. Brietstein as his associate and a year later became his partner to form Brietstein & Strauss, DPM, PA. Dr. Strauss is now the CEO and President of the practice and prides himself on his work ethic, availability, approachability, and bedside manner. Dr. Strauss lives in Parkland, FL and is a very active community supporter. He is also the only Podiatrist on the teaching faculty with the Broward Health Orthopedic Surgery Residency and assists the Ortho-Trauma team as their foot and ankle specialist. His hobbies include:Flying full-scale and fixed-wing airplanes and FPV drones, Radio-controlled aircraft, joke writing for many famous comedians, collecting/building/shooting firearms, highly-advanced tactical firearms training and instruction collecting and restoring vintage and modern sports cars and motorcycles, SCUBA, Fly and Saltwater Fishing, and boating.
Board Certifications:
Diplomat, American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Fellow, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)
Diplomate American Board of Wound Management, Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)
Fellow, American Professional Wound Care Association
Fellow, American College of Certified Wound Specialists
Professional Affiliations (Past & Present):
American Podiatric Medical Association
Florida Podiatric Medical Association
Broward County Podiatric Medical Society
American Diabetes Association
American Professional Wound Care Association
Fort Lauderdale Surgical Society
Alexandra M. Andes, DPM, FABFAS, FACFAS, FABPM, CWS
Dr. Alexandra M. Andes, a partner with AFAWS, was born in Livingston, NJ and was raised in Indialantic, FL. After graduation from Melbourne High School, she attended the University of Central Florida where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Micro and Molecular Biology (2004).
Dr. Andes enrolled at Barry University School of Graduate Sciences in 2004 and earned a Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine (DPM) in 2008. Dr. Andes completed her three-year foot and ankle surgical residency training at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, FL. Her comprehensive training included trauma such as metatarsal fractures and ankle fractures as well as elective surgery such as bunion and hammertoe correction. Her training also included wound care, and she became wound care certified (CWS) by the American Board of Wound Management in October 2011. She joined the practice in July 2011.
Dr. Andes lives in Plantation, FL with her husband, Dr. Nathan Vela as well as their two sons, Daniel and Austin. She enjoys traveling as well as spending time with friends and family.
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Board Certifications:
Diplomat, American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Fellow, American Board of Podiatric Medicine
Fellow, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)
Diplomate, American Board of Wound Management, Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)
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Professional Publications:
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Use of Oasis wound matrix in the treatment of a hematoma induced leg wound.
Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine
Volume 1 Issue 4 October to December 2010 ISSN: 2157-9148 -
Neurostimulation: Can it have an impact for painful diabetic neuropathy?
Podiatry Today
Volume 23 Issue 6 June 2010
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Nathan D. Vela, DPM, MPH, FACFAS
Dr. Vela is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon who has been practicing Podiatry in South Florida since 2009. He specializes in treating foot, ankle and leg injuries in infants, children, teenagers and adults.
He graduated from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery and completed his residency in foot and ankle surgery at the Bruce W. Carter Veterans Medical Center in Miami, FL. His interests include treatment of complex deformities in children and adults as well as sports related injuries and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. Dr Vela has served as a team physician for Pembroke Pines Charter High School and Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School. He is an Associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
He graduated from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery and completed his residency in foot and ankle surgery at the Bruce W. Carter Veterans Medical Center in Miami, FL. His interests include treatment of complex deformities in children and adults as well as sports related injuries and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. Dr Vela has served as a team physician for Pembroke Pines Charter High School and Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School. He is an Associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Dr. Vela also completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Austin College in Sherman, Texas; and a Masters of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX where he was also working on a Masters of Science Education before leaving for medical school. Originally from Corpus Christi, TX, Dr. Vela moved to South Florida to attend Barry University where he met his wife Dr. Alexandra Andes-Vela, DPM who also practices with Advanced Foot, Ankle & Wound Specialists, PA. They live in Plantation, FL with their two sons, Daniel and Austin, and three pets which include two dogs and a cat.
Dr. Vela enjoys being active in his local community and looks forward to continuing that involvement as well as keeping the people of South Florida active and healthy.
Board Certifications and Affiliations:
Fellow, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Diplomate, American Board for Foot and Ankle Surgery
Board Certified in Foot Surgery
Board Certified in Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle Surgery
Member, American College of Foot and Ankle Pediatrics
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Natalie N. Nowicki, DPM is a podiatrist at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, PA. She joined the team in 2022 and provides a wide range of podiatric services to patients throughout our offices.
Dr. Nowicki is a South Florida native, born and raised in the Broward County area. She attended Florida Atlantic University, where she was a Phi Kappa Phi inductee and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences.
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Dr. Nowicki continued her education in South Florida and earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in 2019. She completed her three-year foot and ankle surgical residency training in 2022 at Memorial Healthcare System in South Florida. Her training included management and surgical treatment of forefoot and rearfoot injuries, diabetic foot management and sports medicine as well as a wide array of elective surgery such as bunion and hammertoe correction, neuroma removal and flatfoot correction. During her residency she completed numerous additional surgical training courses with an emphasis on bunion correction, fracture management and external fixation.
Dr. Nowicki lives in Fort Lauderdale and in her spare time she enjoys exercising, spending time with her family and being active in the community.
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NatALIE NowICKI, DPM
Holly Seigle, DPM, FABPM
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Podiatrist Holly M. Seigle, DPM, is an associate at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, PA. She joined the team in 2023 and provides various valuable podiatric services to patients throughout our offices.
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Dr. Seigle is native to South Florida, born and raised in the Broward County area. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida Atlantic University structured around a pre-medical curriculum. She then earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in 2020. While attending Barry University she exposed herself to multispecialty outreach programs within the greater Miami area. She also took part in a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic through the Jose's Hands organization, delivering podiatric care to underserved communities.
Dr. Seigle completed her 3-year foot and ankle surgical residency training in 2023 at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida. Her training included management and surgical treatment of foot and ankle trauma, diabetic foot management, sports medicine, and a vast array of elective surgery such as bunion and hammertoe correction with exposure to MIS (minimally invasive surgery). During her residency she completed additional surgical training courses with an emphasis on fracture management, bunion correction systems, and arthroscopy or joint scoping techniques of the foot and ankle.
Dr. Seigle continues to reside in Broward County. Her hobbies include offshore fishing, competitive archery, multi-media art appreciation, gardening, composing online educational resources targeted to Podiatry students and residents, and exploring limited space sustainable living options.
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Board Certifications and Affiliations:
Fellow, American Board of Podiatric Medicine