Fernanda Silva

About Fernanda Silva

I am a PhD-trained Physical Therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience in adult neurology and pediatric rehabilitation, combined with proven leadership in program development and team coordination. Licensed to practice in New York, I am relocating to Westchester County to contribute my expertise in pediatric rehabilitation, neurodevelopmental care, clinical management of neurorehabilitation services, and research initiatives.In 2018, I co-founded Acts of Life Tanzania, the first Neurorehabilitation Center in the country to provide neuromodulation (tDCS) and hippotherapy. Through this nonprofit, we serve more than 120 children with cerebral palsy each month and host international volunteer physical therapists through Physiotherapists Without Borders, which I founded.Beyond clinical practice, I have taught at the university level, serving as a lecturer in Neuroanatomy and as a clinical instructor for neurology internships in Physical Therapy. I am the author of 12 peer-reviewed publications and a journal peer reviewer in rehabilitation sciences. I also led the translation and cultural adaptation of the HINE (Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination) into Kiswahili, expanding access to standardized pediatric neurological assessments across East Africa. My professional mission is to integrate clinical expertise with evidence-based practice and innovative therapies—such as animal-assisted interventions, neuromodulation, and hippotherapy—to help children reach their full potential. With international experience across Latin America and Africa, I bring a global perspective to patient care, program development, and community health.I recently completed my Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil), where I focused on pediatric neurorehabilitation and early intervention.

Experience

1. Physical Therapist

   Summit Health

   Jan 2026 — Present · Purchase, NY, US

Education

• Uninove - Universidade Nove de Julho

  Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy

• Uninove - Universidade Nove de Julho

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD , Rehabilitation Sciences

• Uninove - Universidade Nove de Julho

  Master's degree, Rehabilitation Sciences

• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

  Postdoctoral Research Fellow (in progress), Early Intervention & Pediatric Neurorehabilitation

• Uninove - Universidade Nove de Julho

  Postgraduate Specialization, Pediatric Neurofunctional Physical Therapy