Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. Last updated April 2026.

What Exactly Is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, DPM) is a physician who specializes exclusively in the diagnosis, medical management, and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related leg structures. Podiatrists are medical specialists — similar in training intensity and depth to orthopedic surgeons or dermatologists — but with comprehensive expertise specifically in the foot and ankle.

At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell and Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM, Dr. Carl Jay DPM, and Dr. Daria Gutkin DPM are board-certified podiatric physicians with advanced training in both medical and surgical foot and ankle care.

Podiatric Medical Education and Training

Undergraduate Education

Like MD/DO physicians, podiatrists complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree with pre-medical coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Podiatric Medical School

4 years of intensive medical education at one of nine accredited podiatric medical schools in the United States. The curriculum mirrors that of MD/DO programs, covering biochemistry, anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, physiology, microbiology, and clinical medicine — with additional emphasis on lower extremity anatomy, biomechanics, dermatology, and orthopedics. Students complete clinical rotations in family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and specialty rotations in addition to podiatric medicine.

Residency Training

After podiatric medical school, all DPMs complete a 3-year surgical residency accredited by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). Residencies are hospital-based and include extensive training in foot and ankle surgery, anesthesia, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and surgical subspecialties. Modern podiatric residencies are comparable to orthopedic surgery residencies in surgical volume and complexity for foot and ankle procedures.

Board Certification

After residency, podiatrists may pursue board certification through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) or the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM). Certification requires passing written and oral examinations and demonstrating surgical case proficiency. Board-certified podiatrists have met the highest standards of knowledge and technical competency in the specialty.

What Do Podiatrists Treat?

The scope of podiatric medicine encompasses virtually all conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related lower leg:

• Skin and nail: Fungal infections, athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, plantar warts, skin ulcers, corns, calluses
• Tendon: Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, peroneal tendon tears, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
• Bone: Fractures, bunions, hammertoes, flatfoot, stress fractures, heel spurs
• Joints: Ankle arthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, ankle sprains, ankle instability
• Nerve: Morton’s neuroma, tarsal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy evaluation
• Vascular: PAD evaluation, wound care in ischemic limbs
• Diabetic foot: Comprehensive diabetic foot exams, wound care, therapeutic footwear
• Sports medicine: Athletic injuries, return-to-sport protocols, biomechanical analysis
• Surgery: Bunion correction, hammertoe repair, ankle reconstruction, Achilles repair, fracture fixation, ankle replacement, flatfoot reconstruction

Podiatrist vs. Orthopedic Surgeon: What’s the Difference?

Both podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons treat foot and ankle conditions. The key differences:

• Training path: Podiatrists train in a DPM program with residency; orthopedic surgeons train in an MD/DO program with orthopedic residency + fellowship
• Scope: Podiatrists treat only the foot and ankle — making them the foot and ankle specialists by definition. Orthopedic surgeons treat the entire musculoskeletal system; foot/ankle subspecialty orthopedists have fellowship training specifically in the foot and ankle
• Medical management: Podiatrists are often more experienced in the medical (non-surgical) management of foot conditions — including diabetic foot care, wound care, skin and nail conditions — which aren’t core to orthopedic training
• Surgery: Both perform foot and ankle surgery. Foot and ankle surgical outcomes studies generally show comparable results between well-trained podiatric surgeons and orthopedic foot/ankle specialists

In general: for foot and ankle concerns, whether medical or surgical, seeing a podiatrist is appropriate for the vast majority of conditions.

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

See a podiatrist when you have:

• Any foot or ankle pain that hasn’t resolved with rest in 2 weeks
• Foot or ankle injury (especially if you can’t bear weight)
• Diabetes — annual comprehensive foot exams
• Ingrown toenails, thick/fungal nails, plantar warts
• Changes in foot structure (bunion developing, arch flattening, toe deformity)
• Non-healing foot wounds
• Numbness, tingling, or burning in the feet
• Any recurring foot problem that keeps coming back

At Balance Foot & Ankle, our podiatric physicians provide the same level of expertise, diagnostic rigor, and surgical capability as any subspecialty practice — with the accessibility of a private practice in Livingston and Oakland County. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule with our team.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

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Schedule Your Appointment at Balance Foot & Ankle

Whether you need routine foot care or specialized treatment for a complex condition, a board-certified podiatrist has the training and expertise to help. Dr. Tom Biernacki and the team at Balance Foot & Ankle welcome new patients at both the Howell and Bloomfield Hills offices.

Book Your Appointment Today | Book Your Appointment | Call (810) 206-1402

Clinical References

1. American Podiatric Medical Association. “What is a podiatrist?” APMA Position Statement. 2023.
2. Richey ML. “Education and training of the podiatric physician.” Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. 2007;24(1):1-8.
3. Williams CM, et al. “Effectiveness of interventions delivered by podiatrists.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. 2013;6(Suppl 1):O32.