Remembering John Mulliken, MD, 1938-2026
John Mulliken, MD, a pioneering figure in plastic surgery, passed away Jan. 20 at age 87.
Born April 30, 1938, in Chicago, Dr. Mulliken's legendary career was marked by groundbreaking contributions to the understanding and treatment of vascular anomalies and craniofacial deformities. His life's work transformed the landscape of plastic surgery and left an indelible impact on patients and the medical community worldwide. He inspired countless trainees to devote themselves to perfecting the art and science of caring for children with facial differences.
Dr. Mulliken's journey to becoming a world-renowned surgeon began with a strong educational foundation. He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in 1960, earning an A.B. degree in chemistry. His intellectual curiosity and dedication to excellence propelled him to pursue a medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons from where he graduated in 1964. At Columbia, he demonstrated a passion for research and innovation, earning recognition for his academic achievements and clinical promise.
After medical school, Dr. Mulliken completed his surgical training at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1970. This was followed by military service, where he served as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Dr. Mulliken was commanding officer of the 43rd Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Uijongbu, Korea, and later the chief of surgery at Cushing Hospital at Ft. Devens in Massachusetts. His experiences during this time honed his surgical skills and deepened his commitment to saving lives under challenging conditions.
Upon returning to civilian life, Dr. Mulliken continued training in plastic surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1972-74. These formative years laid the groundwork for his future innovations in craniofacial surgery and vascular anomalies.
Academic, clinical leadership
Dr. Mulliken joined Boston Children's Hospital in 1974 as the first associate of Joseph Murray, MD. He would spend the rest of his illustrious career there, holding held several key positions, including co-director of the interdisciplinary Vascular Anomalies Center, director of the Craniofacial Center and director of the Cleft Lip and Palate Program. His leadership transformed these programs into world-renowned centers for patient care, research and education.
Dr. Mulliken's academic appointments at Harvard Medical School reflected his stature in the field. He progressed from instructor in surgery to professor of surgery, a role he held from 2002 onward. His dedication to teaching and mentorship ensured that his knowledge and skills would be passed on to future generations of surgeons. Many of his mentees became leaders in their own right, carrying forward his legacy of innovation and excellence.
One of Dr. Mulliken's most significant contributions to medicine was his work in the field of vascular anomalies. He co-founded the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies and served as its president in 1996-98, fostering global collaboration among clinicians and researchers. His pioneering research led to the development of the Mulliken classification system for vascular anomalies, a framework that has become a cornerstone of diagnosis and treatment for these conditions.
Dr. Mulliken's research was characterized by a meticulous approach to understanding the biology and clinical behavior of vascular anomalies. His collaboration with colleagues in molecular genetics uncovered the genes responsible for familial venous malformations, glomuvenous malformations and capillary-malformation-arteriovenous malformation. He published extensively on the subject, with more than 500 scientific articles and book chapters to his name. His seminal textbook, Vascular Anomalies: Hemangiomas and Malformations, co-edited with Patricia Burrows, MD, and Steven Fishman, MD, remains a definitive resource in the field.
Dr. Mulliken's expertise extended beyond vascular anomalies to craniofacial surgery. He was instrumental in developing innovative techniques for repairing congenital deformities. His single-stage approach to bilateral cleft lip repair received the American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS) James Barrett Brown Prize in 1996. With exacting attention to detail, Dr. Mulliken applied direct anthropometry to develop optimized techniques for cleft lip and nasal repair. These techniques, which emphasized achieving both functional and aesthetic outcomes, set new standards in the field and improved the quality of life for countless patients and their families worldwide.
Dr. Mulliken's collaboration with geneticists helped identify the causative genes responsible for Boston-type craniosynostosis, cleidocranial dysplasia and craniometaphyseal dysplasia, paving the way for targeted treatment. His work was devoted to the children of others and he, along with patients' parents, established the Foundation for Faces of Children in 1986.
Mentorship, honors
Throughout his career, Dr. Mulliken was deeply committed to education and mentorship. He trained hundreds of medical students, residents and Fellows – many of whom became prominent figures in plastic surgery and related fields. His teaching extended beyond technical skills; he instilled in his trainees a deep empathy, an unwavering commitment to excellence and a passion for advancing care through impactful research.
Dr. Mulliken's mentorship was recognized via numerous awards, including the William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award from Harvard Medical School and the School of Dental Medicine. He took great pride in seeing his mentees succeed and often maintained lifelong relationships with them, offering guidance and support long after their training was complete.
Dr. Mulliken's contributions to medicine were widely recognized. He received an honorary degree from Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels in 1998 and was named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2014. He received the Honorary Award from AAPS, and he was also ranked No. 1 in the world by Highly Ranked Scholars for lifetime contributions in the field of birth defects. These distinctions reflected his international impact on the field of plastic surgery.
In addition to these honors, Dr. Mulliken received the Clinician of the Year Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Castle Connolly. These deeply meaningful accolades reflect his unparalleled contributions to the field, and the profound and lasting impact he's had upon the lives of patients, families and generations of physicians.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Mulliken was a devoted husband and father. He is survived by his wife, A. Portia Chiou, MD, and their daughter, Olivia Angelica. His family was a constant source of immense joy and support throughout his life. Despite the demands of his career, he always made time for his loved ones, cherishing moments of connection and celebration. With a characteristic sparkle in his eye, Dr. Mulliken spoke lovingly of his daughter, overflowing with pride, and savoring their time together, whether playing the piano together, helping with her homework or reading books side by side.
Dr. Mulliken loved history and the arts. He often drew inspiration from these pursuits, finding parallels between the creativity required in the operating room and the artistry evident in human expression. His colleagues and friends remember him as a man of great intellect, humility and compassion.
Dr. Mulliken's passing marks the end of an era in plastic surgery. His visionary work, compassionate patient care and unwavering commitment to advancing medical science left a transformative impact on the field. He will be remembered not only for his surgical innovations and scholarly contributions, but also for his profound humanity and the inspiration he provided to all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Until the very end, Dr. Mulliken remained devoted to his life's work. Even as he faced health challenges, he stayed unwavering in his commitment to teaching and sharing what he had built – pouring his energy into his textbook on caring for children with cleft lip and cleft palate. As his father often reminded him, "Mullikens never quit." Dr. Mulliken lived by those words, never yielding and fighting tirelessly with remarkable strength and resolve.
Dr. Mulliken's legacy endures through the countless lives he transformed, the mentees he inspired and the scientific advancements he championed. His contributions will continue to shape the practice of plastic surgery for generations, ensuring that his spirit of innovation and compassion lives on.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation for Faces of Children.