John Mulligan - What's New

John Mulligan, RMT/CLT-LANA

Lymphedema Therapy, Education & Consulting

What’s New

April 1, 2011: If you have seen me for treatments in the past, then you know that in the summer of 2009 I put my therapy practice on hiatus to focus my attention on another lymphedema-related project. I am happy to announce that I have now returned to work as a hands-on therapist on a part-time basis. Port Health in St. Catharines has generously allowed me the use of a clinical space, and I will be working one day a week at that location for the foreseeable future.

The last year and a half has been a busy one. My wife, Bonnie, and I launched a new business called Lymphedema Depot. You can learn more about this business at our website: www.LymphedemaDepot.com.

Getting Lymphedema Depot up and running has been exciting. I feel strongly that Canadian patients with lymphedema and related conditions should have access to the best products available that will help them manage their health. We have enjoyed introducing the Solaris Tribute, among other products, to the Canadian market.

This business has brought us more deeply into the world of lymphedema care. We have participated in several conferences, from Ontario to British Columbia. We have conducted in-services, visited clinics and addressed hospital staff.

We have also gotten involved in the International Lymphedema Framework movement. This is a movement to improve the management of lymphedema and related disorders worldwide. We have been involved in the Canadian Lymphedema Framework; I am serving on the Education Committee.

This summer I am planning to attend the Lymphedema Therapy; Advanced and Review, in English, at the Foeldi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany in conjunction with Klose Training & Consulting. I am really looking forward to it.

As you can see, this is a busy and productive time for me as a therapist and for both Bonnie and me in our new business. We’ll keep you posted!

June 29, 2009: I decide to minimize my clinic time to dedicate more time to Lymphedema Depot Ltd., the company we have started to import and distribute Solaris products in Canada. I suspend my full time practice, although I am still available for consultations, assessments and treatments on a case by case basis. For further news and information, visit: www.LymphedemaDepot.com

June 20, 2009: We travel to beautiful British Columbia to present Solaris products at our first lymphedema conference as vendors. It is a wonderful event put on by Grace Dedinsky-Rutherford, a massage and lymphedema therapist practicing in North Vancouver.

April 4, 2009: I attend the CDT Professional Development Day at Toronto Lymphocare. By now I am showing Solaris products, giving out samples and catalogues. My presentation is met with interest. Sharon Langfield and Janet McFarland, the therapists hosting the event, are generous with their knowledge and experience and, as always, it is great to network with other therapists.

November 2008: Bonnie and I have decided to become the importer and distributor of Solaris products for Canada. I feel very strongly that the Canadian market should have access to these products to help advance lymphedema care in this country. Lymphedema Depot Ltd. is born.

October 4, 2008: The Lymphovenous Association of Ontario holds its annual lymphedema conference at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. International educators, experts and researchers share their knowledge and findings, vendors show their wares and patients, therapists, certified fitters, caregivers and doctors all learn from one another. Stephanie and Kathy from Solaris host an exhibitor booth presenting their specialized garments for the first time at a Canadian conference and the interest level is very high.

September 29, 2008: Kathy Weatherly and Stephanie Gamble from Solaris, Inc., maker of therapeutic lymphedema and venous insufficiency garments, give a presentation in St. Catharines, Ontario to several lymphedema therapists, including myself, introducing their specialized garments to Canadian therapists.

June 4 2008: On Wednesday, June 4, Rosalind Tucker of Valco, a company that supplies orthopedic products, came to Welland to train us as fitters in Mediven compression hose. Rosalind is a fountain of knowledge about the Mediven compression garments as well as all the other products that Valco carries. I look forward to working with this wonderful Canadian company. With the addition of this certification I am now a certified fitter for Mediven, Solaris, Jobst, Juzo and Circ-Aid compression garments, in addition to being able to fit and/or supply other Solaris products (Caresia, ReadyWrap, Swell Spots). Thanks to Rosalind Tucker for taking the time to come and see us in Welland!

May 16-17, 2008: I attended the Klose Training Lymphedema Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The conference was a success, attended by about 130 lymphedema therapists from all over North America. The conference agenda featured a distinguished faculty, headed by Professor Ethel Foeldi, Physician-in-Chief at the Foeldi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany. Professor Foeldi is a leading authority on lymphatic disorders of all kinds. Also in attendance were a number of companies with new and advanced products for the treatment of lymphedema. At a pre-conference training session I received a certification in fitting Circ-Aid compression garments. At a conference like this, it is always a pleasure to meet other therapists, catch up with old friends, get a chance to hear leading experts in the field, and see the latest, most innovative products currently available. It was an enriching experience that will inform my practice for years to come.

April 15, 2008: My practice was included in an article in the St. Catharine’s newspaper, The Standard, today. The article in the Spectrum section of the paper featured Cindy Schultz, a Registered Massage Therapist and lymphedema therapist. The author, Cheryl Clock, also interviewed Anna Kennedy of the Lymphovenous Association of Ontario, several of Cindy’s patients and me. It was nice to be included in the article and I received several inquiries for treatment almost immediately. See a copy of the article, titled, “Mystery Illness,” by Cheryl Clock, here (click)

April 5, 2008: Toronto Lymphocare hosted the third annual Combined Decongestive Therapists Professional Development Day. This is a gathering of lymphedema therapists from around Ontario. Besides the two host therapists, there were eight therapists there from Windsor, Scarborough, St. Catharines, Toronto and Burlington, while I represented the Welland area. Different settings were well-represented from in-hospital programs to private practice. We shared information, looked at the latest studies, examined new (or new to us) products on the market, and shared stories of challenges and successes. Many thanks to Jan McFarland and Sharon Langfield of Toronto Lymphocare for creating and hosting this great event.

January 2008: I was invited to write an article for Alive! Magazine about manual lymph drainage. It’s called “Another Type of Massage; Manual Lymph Drainage,” and it will appear in the May 2008 issue of the magazine. Look for it in fine health and wellness stores.

December, 2007; The year ended on a great note as Massage Therapy Canada Magazine published my article, “Lymphedema: Ten Questions and Their Answers.” Read it online at Massage Therapy Canada by clicking here.

November 10, 2007; We attended the Lymphedema Matters Conference in Toronto, put on by the Lymphovenous Association of Ontario. This is an annual event and it just keeps getting better. This was a chance to hear lectures by the leaders in the field, meet with representatives from sponsoring companies that serve the lymphedema market and visit with colleagues.

November 4, 2007; At the Massage Therapy Expo 2007 in Burlington, Ontario, I presented on two related topics; The History of Manual Lymph Drainage and The Basics of Manual Lymph Drainage. The audience was made up entirely of massage therapists. It was great to introduce manual lymph drainage to my peers and colleagues.

October 14, 2007: I attended Treating Venous and Orthopedic Edemas: Understanding the Role of the Lymph System in Improving Outcomes (Day 2). The course was held in Rochester, New York, about 60 miles from here. It was held at the Visiting Nurse Service and the course was put on by Norton School of Lymphedema Therapy. it was taught by John Beckwith, a physiotherapist who was in my class at the Lerner Lymphedema Academy ten years ago. It was great to catch up with him a bit, and the course was very good and offered a slightly different perspective on wider uses for Complex Decongestive Therapy, which is usually used to treat lymphedema.

May 13-18, 2007; Five days in historic downtown Philadelphia teaching manual lymph drainage at the Philadelphia School of Medical Massage. What a rewarding experience! There were seven students from all over the U.S. and at the end of the week they were all performing manual lymph drainage properly on one another. The students were bright and attentive and it was very gratifying to be able to share some of what I’ve learned and experienced over the past ten years. I enjoyed it, and I look forward to teaching more classes in the future.

May 3-4, 2007; I went to New Jersey for two days of intensive teacher instruction with a certified lymphedema therapy instructor (Steve Norton). The weather was beautiful and the review sessions were very focused and productive. It was a rare and beneficial experience.

March 31, 2007; Toronto Lymphocare hosted a Professional Development Day for lymphedema and manual lymph drainage therapists at their Toronto office just off the corner of Spadina and Dupont street. It's always great to meet with other lymphedema therapists. Usually we're so spread out that we don't get to visit with colleagues very often.

January 3, 2007; I presented a brief lecture and demonstration on manual lymph drainage and lymphedema therapy to the Niagara Chapter of the Ontario Massage Therapist Association. The presentation was well attended and everyone was enthusiastic and interested. Thanks for having me, OMTA!