Dr. Castel Santana, MD, CFMP — known to his patients as Dr. Cas — is a board-certified family medicine physician and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. His approach combines traditional medicine, functional health principles and advanced diagnostics to help patients better understand their health, address underlying risk factors and build a personalized path toward improved performance and longevity.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cas has recognized that exceptional care begins with something often missing from the traditional healthcare experience: time. Time to listen, understand each patient’s goals and evaluate the many interconnected factors influencing their health. He is committed to developing meaningful physician-patient relationships and providing care that is personal, proactive and grounded in each individual’s unique health data.
Born and raised primarily in Anchorage, Alaska, Dr. Cas also spent portions of his childhood in Hawaii, Oregon and California. Living in different communities helped him develop an appreciation for diverse backgrounds, an ability to adapt quickly and a natural talent for connecting with others.
As a student-athlete, Dr. Cas was drawn to the challenge and discipline of wrestling, eventually becoming an All-American wrestler in high school. He carried that same drive into his education, earning dual degrees in biology and chemistry from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
During college, Dr. Cas developed a passion for medicine and a desire to help people achieve better health. He attended medical school in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, before completing his family medicine residency at the University of Maryland. As his clinical experience grew, he became increasingly interested in a more comprehensive model of medicine—one that looked beyond isolated symptoms to consider the full picture of a patient’s health, lifestyle and long-term goals.
Following residency, Dr. Cas continued his training and became a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. Today, he blends his family medicine background with principles of functional and integrative care to help patients identify opportunities for meaningful, sustainable health improvement.
Dr. Cas believes patients should not have to wait for symptoms or disease to significantly affect their quality of life before taking action. His approach focuses on helping patients understand where they are today, identify potential health risks and create a clear strategy for where they want to go. At Cenegenics, Dr. Cas uses comprehensive testing, advanced diagnostics and detailed clinical assessments to evaluate multiple areas of health, including:
- Metabolic and cardiovascular health
- Hormone balance
- Body composition
- Strength, fitness and physical performance
- Nutrition and digestive health
- Sleep and recovery
- Cognitive performance
- Stress, lifestyle and emotional well-bein
Rather than relying on generalized recommendations, Dr. Cas uses each patient’s results, medical history, symptoms and personal objectives to develop an individualized care plan. Recommendations may include targeted changes to nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, supplementation and other clinically appropriate interventions.
His philosophy is also shaped by his Five Pillars of Health and Wellness:
- Medical wellness
- Physical wellness
- Mental wellness
- Spiritual wellness
- Aesthetic wellness
By considering these interconnected dimensions of health, Dr. Cas helps patients pursue improvements that extend beyond laboratory results. His goal is to help each person feel stronger, think more clearly, perform at a higher level and remain actively engaged in the life they want to live.
Dr. Cas practices the same principles he shares with his patients, incorporating thoughtful nutrition, regular movement, recovery and proactive health management into his own life. He believes that lasting health is built through informed decisions, consistent action and a trusted partnership between physician and patient.
