Columbia Mom Finds Healing Through Acupuncture

Dawn Furfaro's chronic pain diagnosis led her to become an acupuncturist and help others, including children.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:50pm

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Dawn Furfaro, a Columbia, Maryland resident, developed severe chronic pain as a teenager that led her to pursue a career in acupuncture and herbalism. She has since opened her own practice, Family Acupuncture Maryland, and served as a professor and clinical supervisor of acupuncture at several schools. Furfaro discusses how her personal experience with chronic pain has shaped her work, including making acupuncture more approachable for children.

Why it matters

Furfaro's story highlights how personal health challenges can inspire individuals to pursue careers in holistic medicine, and how acupuncture can be an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, coughs, colds, asthma, and eczema, especially in children.

The details

Furfaro first became interested in acupuncture and herbalism when she developed severe chronic back pain as a teenager that lasted for 17 years. After seeing numerous doctors and specialists who were unable to help, she decided to pursue a career in acupuncture. She has since opened her own practice, Family Acupuncture Maryland, and served as a professor and clinical supervisor of acupuncture at several schools, including Notre Dame of Maryland University. Furfaro now treats a variety of patients, including many children, for issues such as coughs, colds, asthma, and eczema, in addition to chronic pain.

  • Furfaro developed severe chronic back pain as a teenager, which lasted for 17 years.
  • Furfaro opened her own practice, Family Acupuncture Maryland.
  • Furfaro has served as a professor and clinical supervisor of acupuncture at several schools, including Notre Dame of Maryland University.

The players

Dawn Furfaro

A Columbia, Maryland resident who developed severe chronic pain as a teenager, which led her to pursue a career in acupuncture and herbalism. She has since opened her own practice, Family Acupuncture Maryland, and served as a professor and clinical supervisor of acupuncture at several schools.

Family Acupuncture Maryland

Furfaro's acupuncture practice, which she opened after pursuing a career in acupuncture and herbalism.

Notre Dame of Maryland University

One of the schools where Furfaro has served as a professor and clinical supervisor of acupuncture.

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What they’re saying

“When I was 14, I started to have back pain, and it lasted for 17 years. At first, I just thought it was a sports injury, and it just kept getting worse and worse. I saw every kind of doctor and specialist, and nobody could really help me, but I feel like it totally changed the course of my life.”

— Dawn Furfaro (baltimoreschild.com)

“Acupuncture school was amazing, and I learned so much about healing others and healing myself. It was probably the best four years of my life. Starting my own practice was sort of a natural evolution.”

— Dawn Furfaro (baltimoreschild.com)

“Our needles are thinner than a hair. If I held one up and you were a foot away from me, you'd see the handle, but you wouldn't see the needle. They're super tiny and gentle. We try to make it fun, and I'll needle myself so kids can see.”

— Dawn Furfaro (baltimoreschild.com)

What’s next

Furfaro plans to continue expanding her acupuncture practice and exploring new ways to make the treatment more accessible and enjoyable for children.

The takeaway

Furfaro's personal experience with chronic pain and her subsequent career in acupuncture demonstrates how holistic medicine can provide effective treatment options, especially for children, and how individual health challenges can inspire meaningful career paths.