Walking Strong: Faith, Freedom, and the Future of Local Healthcare

Submitted article by Dr. Catherine A. Casteel, D.P.M., Owner of Casteel Foot & Ankle Center (Rowlett, TX) and Rockwall resident

ROCKWALL, TX (Nov. 12, 2025) As a podiatric physician, small-business owner, and proud Texan, I believe every step
matters—literally and figuratively. Healthy feet keep people working, raising families, and serving their communities. When mobility is lost, independence soon follows, which is why preventive foot care is a cornerstone of lifelong health.

Yet providing that care today has become increasingly difficult. Rising insurance costs, shrinking reimbursements, and excessive regulations have placed a heavy burden on independent practices like mine. Each time Washington expands bureaucracy or threatens a shutdown, local clinics are left to shoulder the uncertainty. We can’t simply close our doors—our patients depend on us.

That’s why I believe the strength of America’s healthcare system lies not in federal mandates but in free-enterprise medicine and personal responsibility. When doctors are free to practice without layers of red tape, patients receive better, faster, and more affordable care. When small businesses are allowed to thrive, local economies stay strong, and families prosper.

Living in Rockwall and operating my clinic in Rowlett, I see the power of community every day. Neighbors help one another, churches rally around families in need, and local businesses quietly donate time and resources to keep our towns strong. That’s the Texas spirit—faith in God, trust in one another, and belief that solutions start at home, not in Washington.

My guiding values are simple: faith, freedom, hard work, and service. Those principles built this nation and still guide how I care for my patients and staff. Healthcare reform won’t come from another government program; it will come from empowering people—patients who take charge of their health, and doctors who are trusted to do their job.

So as we face uncertain times, let’s remember who we are. We’re Texans. We’re resilient. And together, we’ll keep walking forward—strong in purpose, grounded in faith, and confident in the freedom that keeps our communities moving.

“Healthcare reform won’t come from another government program—it will come from empowering people and trusting doctors to do their job.”

About the Author

Dr. Catherine A. Casteel, D.P.M. is a board-certified podiatric physician and surgeon and owner of Casteel Foot & Ankle Center in Rowlett, Texas. A Rockwall resident, Dr. Casteel is passionate about patient education, small-business about patient education, small-business resilience, and community-driven healthcare rooted in faith and service. 

  catherine casteel, foot, healthcare, podiatry, Rockwall, Rowlett