Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Quick Answer:
Quick Answer: Balance Foot & Ankle serves Kalamazoo and western Michigan patients through telehealth consultations and Howell office visits for complex foot and ankle care. Dr. Tom Biernacki provides surgical consultation, second opinions, and specialist-level evaluation for patients from Battle Creek, Portage, Kalamazoo, and West Michigan. Call (517) 579-1881 or visit MichiganFootDoctors.com.
Kalamazoo and western Michigan—including Portage, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and the lakeshore communities—have their own local podiatric resources, but patients seeking subspecialty surgical expertise, second opinions, or Balance Foot and Ankle consultation increasingly use telehealth to connect with specialists regardless of distance. Balance Foot & Ankle’s Dr. Tom Biernacki serves western Michigan patients through comprehensive telehealth consultations and welcomes those with complex surgical needs to our Howell office—approximately 90–100 minutes east via I-94.
Kalamazoo: University and Medical Hub
Kalamazoo hosts Western Michigan University’s Broncos athletics, Kalamazoo College, and the Kalamazoo Valley Community College system—a concentration of student and recreational athletes with foot and ankle health needs. Bronson Methodist Hospital and Borgess Medical Center provide regional healthcare infrastructure. WMU’s competitive hockey, soccer, and football programs produce athletes with complex foot and ankle presentations. Kalamazoo’s pharmaceutical and medical device industry (Pfizer heritage, Stryker headquarters in Portage) creates a medically sophisticated population that seeks evidence-based specialist-level care.
Western Michigan Patients Who Benefit from Dr. Biernacki
Western Michigan patients who seek consultation with Balance Foot & Ankle typically fall into three categories: those needing complex surgical consultation not available locally (Charcot reconstruction, total ankle replacement evaluation, revision bunion surgery); those seeking a second opinion before committing to recommended surgical intervention; and athletes and active patients seeking sports podiatric expertise for performance optimization and injury management. All three categories are well-served by telehealth initial consultation followed by targeted in-person visit when examination, imaging, or procedures are required.
Services Available for Western Michigan Patients
Balance Foot & Ankle provides telehealth and in-person consultation for Kalamazoo and western Michigan patients including: complex bunion and deformity surgical consultation, ankle arthritis evaluation (replacement vs. fusion), Charcot foot assessment, ankle instability and Broström reconstruction evaluation, Achilles tendon repair consultation, peroneal tendon pathology, diabetic foot care, custom orthotic evaluation, and second opinion services. Call (517) 579-1881 or schedule at MichiganFootDoctors.com.
Telehealth: The Right Starting Point for Western Michigan Patients
Telehealth consultation is the recommended first step for most Kalamazoo and western Michigan patients. The initial video consultation allows Dr. Biernacki to review imaging, discuss symptoms and history, provide preliminary diagnosis, and determine whether an in-person Howell visit will add meaningful value for the specific condition. Many western Michigan patients receive complete diagnosis and treatment guidance via telehealth; those needing surgical evaluation, in-office procedures, or orthotic fabrication schedule a focused Howell visit.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Doctor Hoy’s Natural Pain Relief Gel
⭐ Highly Rated | Foundation Wellness Partner | 30% Commission
Natural topical pain relief gel for foot and ankle pain management between consultations. Arnica and menthol formula recommended for athlete soreness and joint pain.
Dr. Tom says: “Kalamazoo runner managing Achilles tendinopathy—Doctor Hoy’s gel combined with Dr. Biernacki’s telehealth advice got me through marathon training.”
Foot and ankle soreness, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis topical relief
Deep infections, open wounds, or conditions requiring urgent in-person evaluation
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PowerStep Pinnacle Professional Insole
⭐ Highly Rated | Foundation Wellness Partner | 30% Commission
Professional-grade semi-rigid arch support—the first-line OTC orthotic Dr. Biernacki recommends for plantar fasciitis and arch pain before custom orthotic consideration.
Dr. Tom says: “Dr. Biernacki recommended PowerStep Pinnacle via telehealth for my western Michigan patient consultation. Excellent results without needing to drive to Howell.”
Plantar fasciitis, arch pain, first-line conservative management
Severe structural deformity or diabetic patients requiring custom accommodative orthotics
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Telehealth eliminates the 90–100 minute drive from Kalamazoo for cases that can be fully managed remotely
- Second opinion consultation available for western Michigan patients considering surgery recommended by local providers
- WMU and Kalamazoo College student-athlete sports injury expertise available via telehealth
❌ Cons / Risks
- 90–100 minute drive from Kalamazoo to Howell is significant—telehealth triages which cases truly need in-person care
- Local Kalamazoo podiatric providers are more convenient for routine and maintenance care
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Kalamazoo has excellent medical resources, including great local podiatrists. The patients who come to me from western Michigan typically have a specific need—a complex surgical question, a second opinion before a procedure, or a sports injury that’s been frustrating to manage locally. Stryker headquarters in Portage makes the region medically sophisticated, and the WMU athletic community brings high-performance expectations. I enjoy serving these patients through telehealth—the technology allows me to provide genuine specialist-level input without requiring a 2-hour round trip for a case that can be handled on video.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kalamazoo patients get telehealth consultations with Dr. Biernacki?
Yes. HIPAA-compliant telehealth is available for all Michigan patients. Kalamazoo, Portage, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, and all western Michigan communities can access consultations at MichiganFootDoctors.com. Bring imaging reports and prepare questions in advance for the most efficient telehealth visit.
Is Balance Foot & Ankle in Grand Rapids?
No—our office is in Howell, Michigan (Livingston County), approximately 90–100 minutes east of Kalamazoo via I-94. Grand Rapids patients are approximately 90 minutes away. We serve western Michigan through telehealth for most consultations, with in-person Howell visits for cases requiring examination, procedures, or surgical evaluation.
What complex foot conditions bring western Michigan patients to Howell?
Common presentations from Kalamazoo and western Michigan: Lapidus bunion fusion consultation, Charcot foot evaluation and bracing, total ankle replacement evaluation, peroneal tendon tear surgical consultation, ankle OCD treatment planning, and second opinions on recommended surgical procedures. These complex cases benefit from Dr. Biernacki’s subspecialty expertise.
Does Dr. Biernacki treat WMU student-athletes?
Telehealth consultation is available for WMU Broncos athletes experiencing foot and ankle injuries. For cases requiring in-person evaluation, athletic trainers can coordinate a Howell visit efficiently. Common WMU athlete presentations include ankle sprains, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendinopathy.
Michigan Foot Pain? See Dr. Biernacki In Person
4.9★ rated | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Same-week appointments · Howell & Bloomfield Hills
📞 (810) 206-1402 Book Online →
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon 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 reached over one million views.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
- Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
- Heel Pain (APMA)