AT Shoutout: Jorge Perez-Ortiz

In 2021, ATvantage acquired a contract to provide athletic training services for San Diego Unified School District which included Kearny High School. Finding an AT that is a good match for each site is one of our first tasks when signing new clients, however in this case we were fortunate enough that the current AT there was the perfect fit.

Jorge Perez-Ortiz was the AT at Kearny when we began working together and he's been there ever since. As an alumni of Kearny, who was part of the sports medicine program and state championship wrestling team, he had great relationships with the coaches and AD. He was passionate about supporting current student-athletes having been in their shoes previously.

After Jorge got his degree, he began working as the AT for Kearny and has thrived in his role. When we began working with Kearny, we met with Jorge who was eager to stay at the site and ultimately begin teaching in their medical pathway program. We are grateful for the value, devotion, and care that Jorge provides to his student-athletes at Kearny and couldn't have anticipated a better fit when taking over the contract.

When reflecting on his experience with ATvantage, Jorge shares, "It's nice to feel cared for and the communication (with ATvantage) is great which is very important to me. Any questions we have are always welcomed and they get back to us as soon as possible."

He shared his reasoning behind staying at Kearny as his deep ties being an alumni and the ease of his transition into the role due to his long-time personal relationships on campus.

His favorite benefit of being self-employed? Work-life balance.

Having had previous experiences in AT where his schedule had a negative impact on his personal life, Jorge appreciates the flexibility and ability to adjust his own schedule so he can spend more quality time with his family. He explains that, "In the field of Athletic Training focusing so much time on your work can have a big impact on your mental health. Being self-employed has given me the opportunity to have a good work-life balance that not only benefits me but also those around me."

We love hearing this as a mission-driven company that champions greater work-life balance via non-traditional opportunities in a historically traditional profession. We know there isn't a one size fits all way of working in AT and being able to provide opportunities that support this is something we don't take lightly.

Thank you, Jorge, for your hard work and outstanding service to your athletes and community. We appreciate you!