Inspiring Creativity In Athletics Health Care

In his first year of college, Micheal Clark ’99 (M.S.), a member of the football team, knew he wanted his career to combine his interests in academics and sports. After seeing his teammate’s ACL tear and grueling recovery, Clark knew physical therapy was for him. Physical therapy took his friend from the point of not being able to walk to playing football again.

Clark wanted to have that kind of impact in other elite athlete’s lives and to have impact across the sports therapy industry. Carolina helped him do just that. After graduating, he created the Optimum Performance Training (OPT), a model used by health and fitness professionals worldwide, and founded Fusionetics, a performance healthcare company that has partnered with more than 450 professional and collegiate teams.

“UNC really inspired me and allowed me to be creative and innovative while also forming some phenomenal relationships.”

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Clark gives back to Carolina’s EXSS program so students continue to be educated and prepared to work in multiple disciplines in the performance health industry — something he calls “inspiring and empowering.”