Mary Verghese Biography 
Mary Verghese was one of the earliest pioneers of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in India. In 1963, she took charge of first department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with inpatient facility in India at the Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore. She was instrumental in changing that department to the first rehabilitation institute of India in 1966. She was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1972 for her significant contributions to the field of medical science. An award has been instituted in her memory by the Mary Verghese Trust and the first award was given in the year 2012 to S. Ramakrishnan, founder president of the Amar Seva Sangam.
Mary Verghese was born in Cherai, a coastal belt belonging to Ernakulam district on 21 May 1925. Her father was a respected leader in the local church and community. She had 7 siblings and her family was financially sound. After studying at Union High School in Cherai and Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, she did her graduate training in medicine at the Christian Medical College, Vellore between 1946 and 1952. After completion of medical course, she joined the department of gynecology to specialize in this subject.
She was injured in a road crash in 1954 that resulted in complete spinal cord injury. She was treated by Dr. Paul Brand, under whom she learnt surgical skills related to leprosy rehabilitation. Alter she did a course of rehabilitation at Australian Rehabilitation Center, Perth and secured a fellowship at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New York, under Dr. Howard A. Rusk. In 1962, she returned to India and joined Vellore Medical College as the head of department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, which was later converted to rehabilitation institute in 1966 under her efforts.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 08, 2014
