Dr. Furlan graduated in Medicine from the Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, where she also finished her residency in Physiatry, also known as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R).
She immigrated to Canada in 1997 and obtained her PhD in Clinical Epidemiology from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto
In 2008 she finished a clinical fellowship at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and started as an Assistant Professor of Medicine, in the Division of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
She is also a Scientist at the Institute for Work & Health, in Toronto, and Senior Scientist at KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network.
She attends patients with chronic pain at the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI).
Dr. Furlan in the NEWS
In 2019 she started a YouTube channel for patients with chronic pain. In June 2021 her channel reached 100,000 subscribers.
She is married and the mother of two. She is a Sunday School teacher at the Presbyterian Church of Canada.
Her hobbies include playing piano, gardening, cooking and travelling. Her favourite music styles are classical and gospel music. She speaks Portuguese and English fluently and she is learning French.
Her goal with the YouTube channel is to help 1,000,000 people with chronic pain live to their best ability. She uses a holistic pain management approach, which means that the focus is on the person that has pain, where each person is unique and has a body, mind and spirit.
Awards and Prizes
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Award in Quality and Innovation
For outstanding leadership or academic contributions that aim to improve the quality of healthcare.
2024
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Promotion to professor
Promotion to Professor Award, Faculty of Medicine - University of Toronto. (Distinction)
2024
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Dr. Gil faclier Award
Excellence as a clinical teacher in the Pain Medicine Residency Program
2022
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Outstanding Pain Mentorship Award
Canadian Pain Society - For outstanding achievements and contributions
2021
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YouTube Silver Award
For passing 100,000 subscribers in the channel “Dr. Andrea Furlan”
2021
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Pain Excellence Award
Pain Society of Alberta (PSA), Canada - for excellence in pain.
2020
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10 Years of Academic Contributions
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto
2019
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Fellow
The Mayday Pain & Society Fellowship: Communicating Science & Improving Care
2018
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Innovator of the Year
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto
2016-17
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Promotion to Associate Professor
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
2014
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Innovation Award
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto
2012
Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals
Speaker
Dr. Furlan frequently speaks at local, national and international scientific conferences on the following topics:
Causes of Chronic Pain
The Opioid Crisis
Opioid Tapering
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Low Back Pain
Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analyses
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Cochrane Reviews
Project ECHO
Knowledge Translation and Dissemination
Social Media in Medicine