Durham's OwnATC launches a platform for athletic trainers going independent
The startup centralizes physician supervision, clinical governance and quality assurance so certified athletic trainers can serve the public directly.
OwnATC, a Durham startup, announced on Oct. 23, 2026, that it is launching a clinical governance and practice support platform for Certified Athletic Trainers who want to open independent practices and work directly with the public.
Athletic trainers are licensed sports medicine professionals, but the company says many remain concentrated within schools, universities and professional sports organizations. OwnATC says a key barrier to independent practice is the mix of physician supervision requirements and other regulations that vary by state. Its platform brings clinical governance, supervising physician relationships and quality assurance into one central support structure for affiliated trainers.
"Certified Athletic Trainers have a tremendous amount of expertise, but most people never have the opportunity to work with one," founder Erik Barr said in the release. "We're building a platform that helps these professionals serve their communities directly and bring the kind of care typically available to elite athletes to more people."
The model builds on Optimyzed Movement & Recovery, the team's athletic wellness clinic in Durham, which the company calls a real-world proof of concept for care led by athletic trainers. OwnATC is now recruiting a founding cohort of Certified Athletic Trainers to open practices and help shape the platform as it expands into new communities.
About this story
By Sotwire Desk. Filed by OwnATC. The named company representative below attested the submission.
Key facts
- OwnATC
- Durham, NC
- Launches
- Company attested
- Erik Barr, Founder
- Oct. 23, 2026
- Clinical governance and practice support platform for Certified Athletic Trainers
- Erik Barr
- Optimyzed Movement & Recovery, Durham
- Recruiting a founding cohort of athletic trainers
Key events
- OwnATC announced its platform launch
Sources
- OwnATC Launches Platform to Help Certified Athletic Trainers Expand Access to Care in Their Communities · OwnATC via PR Newswire · accessed 2026-10-27