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

mmendo47@uic.edu

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)

largue2@uic.edu

Twitter @LeoArguellesPT

Nicole Neveau

ngunder1@gmail.com

LinkedIn

Danny Young

daniel.young@unlv.edu

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