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For Dr. Michael Furtado, gratitude has guided every step in his career—gratitude for recovery, purpose and the opportunity to help others do the same.

From his time as a patient to his current role as chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at UNT Health Fort Worth, Furtado has turned personal challenges into professional purpose.

Specializing in neurological conditions, amputations and balance disorders, Furtado found deep meaning in guiding individuals through recovery after his own experiences and hopes to pass that forward to his students.

Early inspiration 

Born and raised in the Boston area to an immigrant family from Portugal, Furtado spoke Portuguese at home and took English as a Second Language classes as a child. His mother, a nurse, often picked him up from school and brought him along to finish her shift. A DAISY Award winner honored for her compassion and care, she inspired his early curiosity about health care.

“I remember sitting in the corner observing her work,” Furtado said. “Even then, I knew there was something special about helping others heal. Watching her work with patients left a lasting impression.”

Those early experiences planted the first seeds of curiosity about health care, but it was not until college that Furtado understood what it meant to be on the other side of care. While competing in tennis during his freshman year at the University of Connecticut, he began experiencing persistent headaches. When his vision grew compromised, doctors discovered a brain bleed.

“After it happened, I went through outpatient physical therapy to regain function in my arm, face and leg,” Furtado said. “I lost the ability to play tennis and be active because I fatigued easily while walking and had trouble driving. It was a humbling reminder that health is something we can never take for granted.”

Months of neurological rehabilitation followed. Although he had to give up competitive tennis, he relearned how to move, walk and live with patience and faith.

“That time forced me to slow down and see life differently,” he said. “I learned what it felt like to be a patient, to depend on others for care.”

“I realized how fortunate I was to recover,” Furtado said. “Together with my experience seeing my mother’s passion in health care, it inspired me to dedicate my life to helping people restore movement and independence.”

His personal experience as a patient deepened his empathy and strengthened his interest in health care. He went on to complete his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical therapy at the University of Connecticut followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston University.

“In physical therapy, the connection with a patient is about trust,” Furtado said. “It is an honor to be part of that process of hope and recovery. My experience gave me empathy because I know what it feels like to be rehabilitated.”

Launching hybrid PT programs

Furtado’s final clinical rotation at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston brought him to Texas. After several years in clinical practice, he discovered a passion for teaching and mentorship. He began as an adjunct instructor, later joining The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston as full-time faculty.

“Teaching gave me a new kind of fulfillment,” he said. “When you see a student connect the dots, when the science and the compassion come together, that is a powerful moment.”

His commitment to education led him to pursue a Doctor of Education, where he explored learning theory and how technology can expand access to instruction. That work inspired him to help design the first hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program at a Texas public university during his time at UTMB.

When he joined UNT Health in 2023 to be closer to family, he brought that same vision with him. Under his leadership, UNT Health launched the state’s second hybrid DPT program at a public institution. The inaugural cohort started classes this summer.

The hybrid program, launched under Furtado’s leadership, combines online and in-person learning to expand access for students across Texas. It mirrors the residential curriculum and is the first program of its kind to offer cross-campus instruction within the UNT System.

“With hybrid education, we’re not just expanding access,” Furtado said. “We’re advancing how, where and for whom this profession is taught, learned and lived.”

The program equips graduates to provide evidence-based, compassionate care and prepares them for leadership in physical therapy.

Service and faith 

Now serving as interim associate dean of UNT Health’s College of Health Professions, Furtado continues to champion empathy-driven, evidence-based care rooted in faith, family and community. He hopes to revive international mission trips for students and expand outreach across Texas.

“A great deal of what I do is for a higher purpose,” he said. “If I can help one more student discover their calling the way I discovered mine, then I have done my job.”

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