Looking for a top-rated podiatrist in Howell, Michigan? Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists is Livingston County’s leading podiatry practice, serving patients across Howell, Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Pinckney, and the I-96 corridor. Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River is led by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS (board-certified foot & ankle surgeon, 950K+ YouTube subscribers) and Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM, with same-week appointments and on-site procedures.
Most insurance accepted • 4.9★ Google rating across 1,123+ reviews • 3,000+ foot & ankle surgeries performed • Saturday appointments available.
Office Location, Hours & Directions — Howell, MI
Address & Contact
Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists
4330 E Grand River
Howell, MI 48843
📞 Phone: (810) 206-1402
📧 Email: info@michiganfootdoctors.com
Office Hours
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Saturday | By appointment |
| Sunday | Closed |
Driving Directions
Our Howell office is conveniently located on East Grand River Avenue, less than 2 minutes from I-96 Exit 137. Free parking is available on-site, with handicap-accessible entrance and ground-floor exam rooms.
From Brighton: Take I-96 west to Exit 137 (D-19/Pinckney Rd). Turn right on Grand River — we’re 0.6 mi on the right.
From Fowlerville: Take I-96 east to Exit 137. Turn left on Grand River — we’re 0.6 mi on the right.
Foot & Ankle Conditions We Treat at Our Howell Office
Our Howell podiatrists treat the full range of foot, ankle, and lower-extremity conditions for adults, seniors, athletes, and children. Most treatments are performed in-office, with surgical referrals to St. Joseph Mercy Livingston and Brighton Surgery Center when needed.
Pain & Common Conditions
- Plantar fasciitis & heel pain — same-day diagnostic ultrasound & treatment
- Bunion pain — conservative care + minimally-invasive bunion surgery
- Ankle sprains & instability — bracing, PT, surgical repair
- Flat feet & fallen arches — custom orthotics & reconstruction
- Hammertoes & claw toes
- Top-of-foot pain & extensor tendonitis
Skin, Nails & Diabetic Care
- Toenail fungus laser treatment — FDA-cleared in-office laser
- Corn & callus removal
- Ingrown toenails — permanent matrixectomy available
- Diabetic foot care — wound prevention & ulcer treatment
- Pediatric foot care — flat feet, sports, in-toeing
- Medical pedicure (Medi-Pedi)
Not sure what’s causing your pain? Browse our full conditions library or call (810) 206-1402 to schedule an evaluation.
Meet Your Howell Podiatrists
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS
Board-certified foot & ankle surgeon. Fellowship-trained in reconstructive surgery, 3,000+ procedures performed. Host of the largest podiatry channel on YouTube (950K+ subscribers) — known for honest, evidence-based answers patients actually understand. Sees patients at the Howell office 4 days a week.
Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM
Comprehensive podiatry, sports medicine, and women’s foot health. Dr. Gutkin brings a thoughtful, conservative-first approach to common conditions like bunions, heel pain, ingrown toenails, and skin/nail problems — with surgical expertise when needed. Many patients see Dr. Gutkin for sports-medicine follow-up and pediatric care.
What to Expect at Your First Howell Appointment
- Quick check-in. Most patients fill out the new-patient paperwork online before arriving — start your new-patient forms here.
- Comprehensive exam. Your podiatrist will perform a hands-on evaluation and, if needed, in-office diagnostic ultrasound or digital X-ray.
- Clear, plain-English diagnosis. You’ll know exactly what’s causing your pain and the full menu of treatment options — conservative first, surgical only when appropriate.
- Same-day treatment, often. Many in-office procedures (cortisone injection, callus removal, ingrown toenail correction, laser fungus treatment) can be done at the first visit.
- Written care plan. You leave with a clear next-step plan and direct access to your provider through our patient portal.
Insurance & Costs
Balance Foot & Ankle accepts most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, HAP, Priority Health, Medicare, and most Medicare Advantage plans. We also offer transparent self-pay pricing for cosmetic and elective procedures.
Have a question about coverage? Call (810) 206-1402 and we’ll verify your benefits before your appointment, or see our full insurance & pricing page.
What Howell Patients Are Saying
★★★★★ “Dr. Biernacki took the time to actually explain what was wrong with my foot. I’ve been to 3 other podiatrists and none of them did that. Did the procedure same day, painless.” — Sarah K., Howell
★★★★★ “Dr. Gutkin is fantastic with my kids. Quick visit, no drama, fixed my daughter’s ingrown nail in 15 minutes. Front desk is friendly too.” — Mike R., Brighton
★★★★★ “I came in with what I thought was a stress fracture. Turned out to be tendonitis — saved me an unnecessary boot and probably surgery. Honest, thorough, and they actually answer the phone.” — Lisa T., Fowlerville
Areas We Serve from Our Howell Office
Patients drive in from across Livingston County and surrounding communities including Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, Pinckney, Hamburg, Whitmore Lake, South Lyon, Genoa Township, Marion Township, Cohoctah, and the I-96 corridor between Lansing and Novi.
If you’re closer to Oakland County, our second location is in Bloomfield Hills — Bloomfield Hills podiatry office details here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I get an appointment at the Howell office?
We hold same-week appointment slots for new patients. For urgent issues — sudden pain, suspected fracture, infected nail, or diabetic wound concerns — call (810) 206-1402 directly and we’ll work you in the same day when possible.
Do I need a referral to see a podiatrist?
Most insurance plans do not require a referral to see a podiatrist. If your plan does, we’ll help coordinate with your primary-care office. Medicare and most Medicare Advantage plans cover medically-necessary foot care without a referral.
Does the Howell office do surgery on-site?
Many in-office procedures (cortisone injections, ingrown toenail correction, laser fungus treatment, callus & corn removal, biopsies) are performed on-site at the Howell location. Larger surgical procedures (bunion correction, hammertoe repair, reconstructive surgery) are performed at St. Joseph Mercy Livingston and Brighton Surgery Center, with Dr. Biernacki holding surgical privileges at both.
What’s the parking situation?
Free on-site parking, including handicap-accessible spaces directly in front of the building. Ground-floor entry with no stairs.
Ready to Get Out of Pain?
Stop putting up with foot or ankle pain. Schedule an appointment with one of Howell’s top-rated podiatrists today — most patients get a same-week appointment and walk out with a clear plan.
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.