User:Stiofán Mac Suibhne

The account of this former contributor was not re-activated after the server upgrade of March 2022.

My name is Stiofán Mac Suibhne. I grew up mainly in Coventry in the English Midlands. I lived in London for 22 years and immigrated to New Zealand in 2005. I studied Molecular Biology at Queen Mary College, University of London and graduated in 1986 with a B.Sc honours (1st Class). I worked for four years as a clinical research scientist, mainly on projects seeking to develop gene therapy protocols using transformed retroviruses in human diseases caused by single gene mutation. I subsequently embarked on accountancy training and pursued a career in financial management in the non-for-profit HIV & AIDS service provider sector, where I helped develop standard contracting approaches for the purchase of HIV / AIDS services on a pan-London basis.

I retrained as an osteopath at the London School of Osteopathy, qualifying in 2001, with a B.Sc. (Hons) Osteopathy. I worked as a lecturer part time, teaching pathophysiology at the London and British Schools of Osteopathy for four years and during that time completed a post graduate certificate in education with the University of Greenwich. I maintain an interest in undergraduate osteopathic education, as I am a member of the external accreditation panels for the University of Western Sydney in New South Wales, Australia and UNITEC, Auckland, New Zealand osteopathic degree programmes.

My clinical practice from 2001 – 2005 was primarily within the state health system working in Occupational Health in the National Health Service and in an NHS funded service for informal carers. I now work in private osteopathic practice and was appointed for a term of 3 years in February 2007 to the statutory regulation authority for osteopathy in New Zealand, the NZ Osteopathic Council. Since qualifying as an osteopath I have undertaken training in Western medical acupuncture with the British Medical Acupuncture Society / University of Hertfordshire, completed a certificate in health promotion with the Open University in 2005 and I am currently registered for a Master of Health Science degree in musculoskeletal medicine with the University of Otago.

I am Buddhist and have been a Friend of the Western Buddhist Order since 1990. I am interested in languages, environmental issues and politics, my pastimes include mountain biking and kayaking.

Professional Affiliations

- British Medical Acupuncture Society

- International Association for the Study of Pain

- Registered Osteopath: New Zealand Osteopathic Council

- Registered Osteopath: UK General Osteopathic Council