BOC honors Chris Casteel 

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) has named Chris Casteel, BOCO, BOCP, co-owner of Anew Life Prosthetics and Orthotics in Detroit, as the recipient of this year’s Certificant of the Year Award.

After overcoming his own obstacles following limb loss at the age of 24, Casteel has made it his mission over the past two decades to "pay it forward" by empowering others to live fulfilling lives with the help of O&P devices.

"I am deeply honored to receive BOC’s Certificant of the Year Award,” said Casteel. “This recognition is a testament to the incredible support I have received from my colleagues, patients and community. My journey through limb loss and rehabilitation has been profoundly personal, and it has driven my passion to help others regain their mobility and independence. This recognition encourages me to continue advocating for O&P advancements and to remain dedicated to providing the best care possible for my patients and community.”

In addition to his experience as a practitioner, Casteel has been a peer counselor for many years and hosts a monthly amputee support group that he initiated at the University of Michigan – a model that has now spread to other local hospitals. In 2010, he also volunteered in Haiti, where he donated his time, energy and knowledge of O&P to assist children and adults with disabilities who needed help following the region’s catastrophic earthquakes.

The nomination period for BOC’s next Certificant of the Year award will open in the fall of 2024. Those eligible for the award include BOC-certified durable medical equipment specialists, mastectomy fitters, orthotic fitters, orthotists, pedorthists and prosthetists who have made outstanding contributions to their profession, including commitments to service, research and outreach.