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Powerful Lessons From a First Acute Care Rotation
Show Notes 2025
What do you really learn in acute care—and what does it feel like to use what you’ve learned in the classroom?
In this episode, we speak with Mika Mendoza, a recent UIC DPT graduate, who reflects on the clinical rotation that changed her perspective on physical therapy. From managing a complex discharge for a newly blind patient to navigating transplant floors and collaborating with interprofessional teams, Mika shares powerful insights on growth, uncertainty, and finding purpose in acute care.
This episode also marks the debut of our new co-host, Dr. Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, who brings her experience as a CI and clinical leader into the conversation. Together, she and Leo explore mentorship, first-hand learning, and why exposure to acute care should be standard in DPT education.
Whether you’re a student, educator, or practicing clinician—this conversation will resonate.
Today’s Guests:
Mika Mendoza, SPT
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mika-mendoza-dpt2025/
Guest Quotes:
8:21 “ Interdisciplinary collaboration is, is key to acute care. It’s not just walking and it’s not just standing.”
19:33 “ …not all things were as straightforward as we had learned it in didactic.”
28:45 “ I feel like having students go into an acute care clinical rotation I think it’s just so important because you will never know. If you don’t try it, right? …Uou miss a hundred percent of the shots that you don’t take.
And I think it’s the same with acute care, especially because there are so many things that get debunked when you’re in an acute care clinical rotation.”
Rapid Responses:
What kind of shoes do you wear in acute care?
“Not White Ones”
You know you work in acute care when…
“ When you try to swipe your badge to get into your house”
Links:
https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/2026Elections
Connect with our host and the podcast!
Leo Arguelles (LEE-O R-GWELL-IS)
Twitter @LeoArguellesPT
Nicole Neveau
LinkedIn
Danny Young
X – @DLYoungDPTPhD
Bluesky – @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social
Interested in being a future guest?
APTA Acute Care:
Website
Awards
Journal Access
https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram
Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA
Facebook APTA Acute Care
Instagram @AcademyAcutePT
YouTube APTA Acute Care Podcast
APTA Acute Care Resources
APTA Adult Vital Signs
APTA Lab Values Document
Webinar Recordings
View all episodes
By APTA Acute CareShow Notes 2025
What do you really learn in acute care—and what does it feel like to use what you’ve learned in the classroom?
In this episode, we speak with Mika Mendoza, a recent UIC DPT graduate, who reflects on the clinical rotation that changed her perspective on physical therapy. From managing a complex discharge for a newly blind patient to navigating transplant floors and collaborating with interprofessional teams, Mika shares powerful insights on growth, uncertainty, and finding purpose in acute care.
This episode also marks the debut of our new co-host, Dr. Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, who brings her experience as a CI and clinical leader into the conversation. Together, she and Leo explore mentorship, first-hand learning, and why exposure to acute care should be standard in DPT education.
Whether you’re a student, educator, or practicing clinician—this conversation will resonate.
Today’s Guests:
Mika Mendoza, SPT
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mika-mendoza-dpt2025/
Guest Quotes:
8:21 “ Interdisciplinary collaboration is, is key to acute care. It’s not just walking and it’s not just standing.”
19:33 “ …not all things were as straightforward as we had learned it in didactic.”
28:45 “ I feel like having students go into an acute care clinical rotation I think it’s just so important because you will never know. If you don’t try it, right? …Uou miss a hundred percent of the shots that you don’t take.
And I think it’s the same with acute care, especially because there are so many things that get debunked when you’re in an acute care clinical rotation.”
Rapid Responses:
What kind of shoes do you wear in acute care?
“Not White Ones”
You know you work in acute care when…
“ When you try to swipe your badge to get into your house”
Links:
https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/2026Elections
Connect with our host and the podcast!
Leo Arguelles (LEE-O R-GWELL-IS)
Twitter @LeoArguellesPT
Nicole Neveau
LinkedIn
Danny Young
X – @DLYoungDPTPhD
Bluesky – @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social
Interested in being a future guest?
APTA Acute Care:
Website
Awards
Journal Access
https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram
Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA
Facebook APTA Acute Care
Instagram @AcademyAcutePT
YouTube APTA Acute Care Podcast
APTA Acute Care Resources
APTA Adult Vital Signs
APTA Lab Values Document
Webinar Recordings