Overview

Dr. Furtado serves as Assistant Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Tarleton State University. She is a licensed physical therapist whose clinical background focuses on neonatal and pediatric practice across acute care, hospital-based, and early intervention settings. Her experience includes neonatal intensive care, developmental outpatient therapy, and family-centered pediatric rehabilitation, allowing her to bring strong clinical relevance to both classroom and clinical education environments.

In addition to her academic responsibilities, Dr. Furtado maintains active clinical involvement supporting infants and families. She is passionate about preparing students for clinical practice through mentorship, development of clinical reasoning, and integration of evidence-based pediatric assessment and intervention strategies. Her teaching emphasizes connecting foundational sciences to real patient care situations, particularly in differential diagnosis and lifespan development.

Dr. Furtado contributes to the profession through professional presentations and clinical program development, including neonatal therapy initiatives and education related to infant development and oral motor concerns. She remains actively engaged in professional organizations and community outreach supporting child health and safety.

Outside of the university, she enjoys spending time with her family playing board games and being outdoors, cooking and baking, maintaining an active fitness routine, reading fiction, and participating in community and service-oriented activities.