By: Sarah Van Horn, Physical Therapy Student and Eric Brown, PT, DPT, COMT, OCS
Full Circle: From Patient to Physical Therapy Student at Spooner
When Sarah first stepped through the doors of Spooner, she wasn’t dreaming of a career in healthcare. She was a middle schooler—navigating the ups and downs of an injury and learning what it meant to heal. At the time, physical therapy was something she received. She had no idea it would one day become her calling.
“The reason I wanted to become a physical therapist was from my experience at Spooner,” Sarah shares. “That’s what introduced me to the field.”
Years later, when the time came to select a site for her clinical rotation, there was one name that stood out. Spooner. By chance—or maybe by fate—Sarah was placed at the very same organization that first sparked her interest. “It was kind of random how I got placed at this location, but it feels really full circle.”
Now, she’s on the other side of the treatment table, working alongside her clinical instructor, Eric, and discovering who she wants to be as a physical therapist. Maybe outpatient orthopedics. Maybe pediatrics. But with each new patient and every hands-on experience, Sarah is finding her voice, building her confidence, and shaping the future she once only imagined.
Learning by Doing (and Believing)
One of the biggest shifts for Sarah came when she started working more closely with patients.
“They’d ask me a question, and I realized—I actually have an answer,” she said. “Even if I wasn’t 100% sure I was right, I knew I had reasoning behind it. I wasn’t just guessing.”
Like most students, she experienced imposter syndrome. But Eric helped her work through it. “He told me, ‘You’re going to know more than you think. You’ve been trained for this.’ And he’s right.”
Having Eric as a mentor made all the difference.
“He’s really patient. If I don’t get something the first time, he’ll explain it a different way. And I never feel like I can’t ask something. He makes it a conversation.”
Sarah also appreciated how Eric treated her like a colleague, not just a student. “He listens to my ideas and helps me build my clinical reasoning instead of just telling me what to do.”
The People Make the Place
Beyond her one-on-one mentorship, Sarah found the entire Spooner team at the Ahwatukee clinic to be open and welcoming.
“Everyone says hi. Everyone’s friendly. It’s a fun environment.”
She also had the chance to learn from team members who specialize in areas she hadn’t previously considered. “I shadowed Madi, who works in breast health, and Janette in pelvic floor. I didn’t even know that was part of physical therapy until I came here.”
Sarah also spent time with Emily, who works with pediatric patients, and Cassie in sports rehab. It felt unique to have access to so many specialties under one roof.
Why Clinical Mentorship Matters to Eric
Eric didn’t set out to become a clinical instructor right away. A year and a half into working as a physical therapist, he was asked to take on the role. But at the time, he felt a wave of self-doubt.
“I remember asking, ‘What do I have to offer a student?’” he said. But he quickly learned that mentorship is a two-way street.
Now, with about six years of experience mentoring students, Eric has supported many future therapists. “It’s fun. Every student is different. They ask different questions and come from different programs and backgrounds. You get to teach—but they also teach you.”
Some students remind him of where he started. Others challenge him to see things in a new way. And with the latest research and new ideas students bring in, he says it helps him stay sharp. That kind of collaborative exchange keeps him learning and growing, too.
He also sees mentorship as a way to give back. “I had great mentors when I started. I wouldn’t be the PT I am now without them. So now I get to help someone else in the same way.”
What Eric Wants Students to Know
When a student begins their rotation with Eric, he’s right there next to them—especially early on.
But over time, he intentionally steps back. He wants the student to be the main provider in the room. The one the patient looks to. The one making decisions.
“I’m always there if they need me. But I want them to experience what it feels like to think through a case and trust their decisions,” he said.
For Eric, the most important skill a new therapist can build is clinical decision-making. “It’s not about doing a bunch of things and hoping one works. It’s about gathering all the information, narrowing it down, and making a clear, confident choice. And if it doesn’t work, that’s okay. We adjust and try something else.”
He also reminds students it’s okay to take their time. “Speed will come later. Right now, I just want to see good thinking and intentional care.”
Growing Together
Mentoring students hasn’t just helped Eric become a better teacher—it’s helped him become a better physical therapist.
“If I’m telling them to check their work and make thoughtful choices, I have to do it too. It keeps me honest.”
Over time, he’s also learned to adapt his teaching style to fit each student. Some need more structure. Others prefer to go with the flow. He’s okay with either approach. “We can make this as deep or as relaxed as you want. I’ll meet you where you’re at.”
Serving as a clinical instructor also keeps him connected to what’s changing in the field. Students bring in new research, new techniques, and fresh perspectives.
“You realize there’s always more to learn. It’s a cycle. My mentors poured into me. Now I pour into someone else. And the student brings something back to me too.”
What Next for Sarah?
For Sarah, this rotation was more than just a step in her education—it was a return to the place where her passion for PT began.
What kind of physical therapist does she want to become?
Someone who makes her patients feel seen. Someone who builds strong relationships. Someone who, like Eric, approaches each exercise with intention and treats every person with care.
“I want to do it like that,” she said. “Where every decision has a reason—and where your patients know you’re really there for them.”
Are you, or someone you know, interested in learning as a student at Spooner? Visit our Student Experience page to learn more, and check out an upcoming Spooner Student Networking or Learning Night to become involved.