From an Eagle Scout project to a student-led movement transforming lives through accessible prosthetics.
Equitas Prosthetics began as Aaron's Eagle Scout project with an ambitious goal to engineer myoelectric prosthetics that could restore mobility. He originally wanted to design an advanced and user-driven device that could be personalized and integrated at a fraction of the cost.
Currently, over 65 million people worldwide live with limb difference (Morgado et. al., 2022), yet access to prosthetics remains severely limited by cost. Prosthetic devices can range from $5,000 USD (Orthotics Ltd., 2025) for basic prosthetics to over $100,000 USD (Celerity Prosthetics, 2025) for myoelectric models, thus placing access out of reach for many. In the end, Aaron was able to donate five mechanical (body-powered) hands using 3D printers. Although simpler in design, it was equally transformative in the sense that it was produced at ≤ 0.01% of market prices! With support from open-source communities like Enabling the Future, the project found a sustainable path forward in the mission to create functional prosthetics at minimal cost.
Having witnessed the profound impact of accessible prosthetics firsthand, Aaron founded the Strake Jesuit Medical Prosthetics and Design Club (SJMPDC) to inspire fellow students. Today, with that desire to make prosthetics accessible is growing beyond Strake Jesuit, SJMPDC was rebranded into Equitas Prosthetics!
Started as an Eagle Scout project with the ambitious goal of creating myoelectric prosthetics. The vision was to learn and use cutting-edge technology to restore mobility and independence.
Because regulatory policies e.g. HIPAA prevented the sharing of patient information, customized fitting would prove a challenge. Therefore, a strategic decision to create a one-size-fits-all mechanical hand was realized.
In searching for guidance, the project was referred to Enable the Future, an open-source community dedicated to creating accessible prosthetic solutions through 3D printing. Their existing infrastructure and proven designs became a turning point. Now the focus could shift to distribution and accessibility. Enable the Future's established framework served as the crucial starting point.
Growing out of a school club, Equitas Prosthetics is a growing student-led initiative with currently expanding chapters across the Houston area. As innovation continues, Equitas hopes to realize its original goal: to develop a myoelectric hand.