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Brian Mulligan

Brian trained as a physiotherapist at the New Zealand School of Physiotherapy, graduating in 1954. Two years later he began his private practice in Wellington, where he remained until 2000, when he finally retired from active clinical practice.

Brian's special interest has always been in manual therapy since Stanley Paris introduced him to the field in the early 1960s. He credits Freddy Kaltenborn as his mentor, but has also found the contributions of James Cyriax, Geoff Maitland, Robin McKenzie and Robert Elvey.

Brian was part of the small group of physical therapists who

formed the New Zealand Association of Manipulative Therapists in 1968. He and his colleague, Robin McKenzie, were the principal lecturers of the newly formed postgraduate program for the Manipulative Therapy Diploma. Brian joined the international speaking circuit in 1972. Currently he has taught in 91 cities in the United States of America and 20 countries around the world.

In 1983, Brian stepped down from his teaching role in the Diploma program and began teaching his newly founded techniques. One of her first students, Barbara Hetherington, took over her teaching role in the Diploma programme. She later became one of its original teachers when the Mulligan Concept Teachers Association was formed in 1996.

Brian's favorite quote has always been from Louis Pasteur: "In the field of discovery, chance only favors the prepared mind"

To meet the high demand for therapists who wanted to learn his techniques and to ensure high teaching standards, he created an international organization in 1995 to accredit teachers. There are currently around 50 Mulligan Concept Teachers Association (MCTA) from 25 countries.

Since retiring from active practice, he has continued to teach internationally at seminars in many countries, drawing large crowds of physiotherapists and physicians.

Brian Mulligan has been married to his devoted wife, Dawn, for over 60 years. They have a son, two daughters, a grandson, five granddaughters, and 4 great-grandchildren. As a typical New Zealander, he loves the outdoors. He likes to play golf and his piano. He had a private pilot's license and enjoyed flying, but had to give it up due to his multifaceted professional life. He is in excellent health and has unbridled energy, which he frequently expends on the golf course.

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Awards

1993 - Honorary Life Member of the New Zealand Manual Therapy Association

1996 – New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists Honorary Fellowship

1996 - Honorary Life Member of the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists

1997 - Ball Dynamics Award for Excellence in a Published Case Study

1998 - Honorary Member of the New Zealand College of Physiotherapy

2007 – Award for Excellence from the World Confederation of Physiotherapists

2016 – Honorary Member of the Col·legi de Fisioterapeutes de Catalunya

2016 – IFOMPT Maitland Award in Glasgow

2022 - Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM)

Honorary Teaching Scholarship at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

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