Father Muller Charitable Institutions establishes its separate Physiotherapy College, FMCP
Mangaluru: September 27, 2023, will be a date to remember in the history of FMCI and Mangaluru, where a new college emerges from the mother cocoon into a vibrant and driven college, the Father Muller College of Physiotherapy (FMCP). In the presence of the Director of FMCI, Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, and the galaxy of the institution’s management body, Advisory body, Faculty, Staff and students, the baton of a new college and the first principal was handed over to Prof. Cherishma D’Silva. Rev. Fr Ajith B. Menezes, who is the Administrator of the Father Muller Medical College (FMMC), Father Muller College of Allied Health Sciences (FMCOAHS), will also be the new college administrator.
Physiotherapy at Father Muller’s started on July 15, 1967, with the blessing of the then Director, Late Fr Marian Fernandes, and the joint efforts of Mr Francis Fernandes and Sr Odillia M Jacob a rehabilitation nurse. The institution sent Sr Leenus Rodrigues for the Bachelor’s Degree in 1991, when he realized the importance of physiotherapy in efficient patient care. After her successful completion and return to the institution, the first batch of Bachelor of Physiotherapy courses was commenced under Mangalore University in 1994 with 40 seats. The year 1996 was another milestone year where the BPT course got affiliated with other medical courses under the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. By February 2002, the department of Physiotherapy had two well-established and well-equipped outpatient and inpatient sectors.
The former Dean of FMMC, Dr B. Sanjeev Rai, whose foresight regarding the need for physiotherapy in the forthcoming years prompted the institute to start a masters in physiotherapy program in 2005 with five postgraduate seats in the specialties of Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular sciences, Neurosciences and Paediatric Physiotherapy. And in 2007, the number of seats increased to 10, and now there is an intake of 20. In the year 2019, under the able leadership of the present Director, Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Administrator, Rev. Fr Ajith B. Menezes, and former dean, Dr JP Alva, there was an increase in the intake of undergraduate seats from 40 to 60.
The recent feather in the Physiotherapy Colleges cap has been its international collaborations with the THIM Universities Netherland and Switzerland and the Hekim University Turkey.
Chronologically, the Course coordinators are: Dr Alfred Aranha , Mr Vinod Abraham , Sr Leenus Rodrigues, Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Jha, Prof. George Mathew, Prof. Kanagaraj R, Prof. Narasimman S, Ms. Kavitha Vishal, Prof. Sudeep Mario Joseph Pais, Prof. Sydney R Rebello, and Prof. Cherishma D’Silva.
In her maiden speech, she invoke the scripture, which says that everything has a time under God’s plan. Her journey nearly 20 years ago as a student in the Father Muller College Physiotherapy department has made her what she is today. She wholeheartedly thanked the former Dean’s for making her journey from faculty and course coordinator to her present stature as Principal an easy one.
Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, in this presidential address, was delighted to see the vast student body that wished for a separate college. The college journeyed from the medical College to the allied college back to the Medical College and is now a separate educational entity. The mantle bestowed by the management on her is because of her earnest work for her department and subject. The keen interest in seeking admission to this course from students from Goa, Maharashtra, and Kerala is noteworthy. This college has to lead the new-age students in academic excellence and co-curricular activities. The prominence of a person is known by the respect they show to their parents and loved ones, as shown by the new principal.
Prof. Cherishma Dsilva, who now adores the role of principal, has completed her bachelors in physiotherapy from Father Muller Medical College Mangalore in the year 2007–2008. Masters in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), 2009–2010, and is presently pursuing her Doctorate from NITTE University, India. She is a member of the Postgraduate Board of Studies, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, and District Coordinator of the Indian Association of Physiotherapy Women Cell, and has proactively been a part of many national and international conferences, workshops, and webinars. As a part of her other social contribution, Prof. Cherishma was the past Chairperson of the Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 and still continues to be a member of the same, which is a unit of the Ladies Circle India and International, a charitable organization. She’s married to Mr. Sandeep Aaron D’Silva, HR manager of Infosys Technologies Limited, and is blessed with a cute son. Master Cahill Moses D’Silva.
The welcome was given by Ms. Kesiya Pinto, final-year postgraduate. The vote of thanks and compeering was done by Ms. Jonica Johni, postgraduate student.
