Jennifer Furtado, PT, DPT, CNT and Michael Furtado, PT, DPT, Ed.D., NCS were both honored with the College of Health Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award in the December 2023 and April 2024 commencement ceremonies respectively.
This award is given to a faculty member who excels in meeting the educational needs of students through high levels of classroom engagement, outstanding responsiveness outside class time, quality feedback, and positive attitude.
“The most rewarding part of this award is that it is voted on by students,” said Dr. Jennifer Furtado. “To be recognized in my first semester teaching is humbling and very motivating.”
Dr. Jennifer Furtado started teaching at Logan in 2023 after so much positive feedback from her husband, Dr. Michael Furtado. He began teaching at Logan two years ago. Both come from a physical therapy background and have taught at PT schools in the past. Both now teach courses for Logan’s Bachelor of Science in Human Biology (BSHB) and Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education (Ed.D.). Dr. Jennifer Furtado teaches the health science capstone course, which is typically right before graduation. In this course, students reflect on all the material they learned and how it applies directly to their future career aspirations. The course includes developing a resume, as well as a research paper and oral presentation on their topic of choice. Dr. Michael Furtado teaches courses related to assessment in the classroom and assists students with the proposal and publication of their final applied research project.
“I always knew I wanted to teach at the undergraduate level because it is such a formative time in a student’s future,” she said. “It has been a great experience so far and this capstone course is really a springboard for students to launch into their next venture.”
“I am just so proud of my wife for receiving this award and distinction in just her first semester of teaching at Logan. It just speaks to the quality of teacher I know she is,” says Dr. Michael Furtado. “She is passionate about learning and is a great communicator. I couldn’t have wanted to follow anyone else in receiving the award the subsequent semester!”
The Furtados live outside Ft. Worth, Texas, with their three children. Dr. Jennifer Furtado is a pediatric PT with neonatal specialization, while Dr. Michael Furtado is an adult neurologic PT. Both hope to continue to educate Logan students for many years to come.