In the early 1990’s, Sole Nation Health started as an idea when Ernesto Castro (Pascua Yaqui) and his custom molded shoe company began working with Dr. Wesley Yamada, Chief of Podiatry at the Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital in Sacaton, Arizona. This hospital is located on the Gila River Indian Community, where the Akimel O'Odham (Pima), the Pee-Posh (Maricopa), and the Tohono O'Odham Nations reside. The Tohono O'Odham and the Akimel O'Odham people have the highest documented incidence of type 2 diabetes per capita in the world. In 1990, Dr. Yamada initiated a comprehensive prevention program for this population with Ernesto’s custom shoes being an integral part of the protocol. Before initiation of this program, an average of 24 diabetic-related major lower limb amputations were performed each year among the diabetic population of these tribes. This is one of the highest documented amputation rates per capita in the world. Since the initiation of this program, the amputation rate in this patient population has been reduced by 88%, resulting in a better quality of life for the people of these Nations. So far it has also saved the health care system over $10 million dollars. Ernesto’s custom shoes also reached the diabetic populations of Ft. Yuma and Ft. Defiance, as well as Indian Health clinics in Peach Springs, Shiprock, and Ft. McDowell, for the Hopi, Pascua Yaqui, Apache, and other tribes in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. For almost 20 years, it has been Ernesto's heartfelt goal to design the most effective pre-made diabetic footwear for all Indigenous people of the American continent. After providing footwear, and evaluating the structure and shape of literally thousands of American Indian feet, he has created one of the most well designed "protective" shoes for the at risk diabetic foot.
© 2010 Sole Nation Health. All Rights Reserved.
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"Sole Sisters"
Sarah I. Gomez
Erica F. Castro, C.Ped.
Since we were little girls begging Dad for horsey rides on his knee, he has had a dream. Dad has always had the heart of an entrepreneur and a vision to help those with special footwear needs using both his 3rd generation shoe cobbler skills, and his knowledge as a Certified Pedorthist. As we were transitioning out of playing with Barbies, Dad was converting our garage into a workshop and started crafting custom western boots and special shoes. His versatility and talent have given him opportunity to craft boots and shoes for people from all walks of life, from Hank Williams Jr. and Dan Folgelburg, to the local resident suffering from foot complications caused by diabetes, arthritis, or a traumatic foot injury. As the business grew so did us girls. In 1990, our parents signed a lease to a small suite in a strip mall in Mesa, AZ and Dad quickly became known around town as the man to see for custom molded shoes. We were recruited by default into the family business. Yep, we did it all, from scrubbing toilets to filing and answering phones. Thanks to Mom we are well educated on proper phone etiquette. We remember many-a-time when Mom would correct us on how unprofessional “yeah” sounded when we were speaking with a customer. It was a hard habit to break for two teenage girls! Now that we are grown, we so appreciate the lessons Mom taught us. She has always been our biggest mentor and we still look to her for guidance in life as well as in business. Dad has always had exceptional talent in crafting shoes. Combine that with the heart and drive to give people a better quality of life by restoring mobility and comfort to them, and you get what Sole Nation Health is all about. We remember many of our dad’s patients saying that thanks to him they were able to walk without pain for the first time in a long time. Because of Dad’s workmanship, keen business sense, and talented bookkeeper (Mom) the business has continued to grow and evolve. We were as enamored of them then as we are now. Since starting Sole Nation Health, our dad’s goal has been the same as it was over 20 years ago—keep people walking while maintaining comfort. We know that our dad has reached his goal with the design and construction of the Sole Nation Health shoe. In working all these years with our dad, we have taken on the same heartfelt goal. We have seen so many lives transformed just by wearing the right kind of shoe, and we want to do all we can to see those who will benefit from it get a pair and know that our dad’s heart, soul, and expertise went into every detail. It’s a special dynamic when sisters are best friends. It’s an anomaly when they are also business partners. As such, our mission at Sole Nation Health is to take part in fulfilling a vision by continuing the legacy our father began over two decades ago. Sole Nation Health means more than just shoes to us. It’s a way of reaching out to our fellow man and making a genuine difference in their present and future by protecting them from possible foot complications. We feel so privileged to be a part of this company, and count it a double blessing to work with each other as both family and colleague every day toward this goal. 