When you trust someone with your feet — and sometimes with surgery — their credentials matter. Every surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle is board-certified, fellowship-affiliated, and holds privileges at major Michigan health systems. Here is exactly what that means and why it matters for your care.
Board certification (ABFAS)
Our surgeons are certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS), the gold standard for surgical competency in podiatry. Board certification means a surgeon has completed rigorous training, passed comprehensive written and oral examinations, and submitted documented surgical cases for peer review — not simply held a license. Dr. Tom Biernacki is double board-certified.
Fellows of the FACFAS
Our doctors are Fellows of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS) — a designation reflecting board certification plus ongoing commitment to advanced education and the highest standards of surgical care.
Professional memberships
- American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) — the national professional body for podiatric physicians.
- Michigan Podiatric Medical Association — our state association, keeping our care aligned with Michigan standards and regulations.
Hospital & health-system affiliations
Our surgeons hold affiliations and surgical privileges with three of Michigan’s largest health systems:
- Trinity Health Michigan — surgical privileges across Southeast Michigan.
- Corewell Health — Michigan’s largest health system.
- Henry Ford Health — academic medical center access.
Hospital privileges are independently granted and periodically reviewed — an external check on a surgeon’s training, judgment, and record.
What this means for you
Credentials are not letters after a name for their own sake. Board certification and hospital privileges mean your care has been vetted by independent bodies, your surgeon operates within recognized standards, and complex cases can be managed in the right setting. With 3,000+ surgeries performed and a 4.9★ rating from 1,123+ verified Google reviews, our experience is backed by credentials you can verify.
Meet the surgeons behind the credentials
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS · Dr. Carl Jay, DPM · Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM