Mary Verghese

Who was Mary Verghese?

Mary Puthisseril Verghese was a physician in India who was among the earliest pioneers of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the country. In 1963, she took charge of what was the first department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with inpatient facility in India at the Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore. She was instrumental in expanding the services of the department with the establishment of the first rehabilitation institute of the country in 1966. In recognition of her contributions to the field of medicine, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1972.

An award has been instituted in her memory by the Mary Verghese Trust, and the first Dr. Mary Verghese Award for Excellence in Empowering Ability was given in 2012 to S. Ramakrishnan, founder and president of the Amar Seva Sangam.