Dr. Joseph C. Mulrean was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. Dr. Mulrean then attended graduate school at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, earning his Masters of Arts in Teaching degree in Biology. Dr. Mulrean then enrolled at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts where he earned his DMD degree. Upon graduation Dr. Mulrean volunteered for the Army, and completed a General Practice Residency in his first year, followed by five years as a general dentist.

At this point in his career Dr. Mulrean was selected for residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, California. He graduated in 1984 and he became board certified in 1986. In 1991 he became the Deputy Director for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Program at Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Washington. Dr. Mulrean retired from the Army after a twenty year career in 1995 and co-founded South Sound Oral Surgery in Olympia, Washington. Today South Sound Oral Surgery has three offices, which are located in Olympia, Centralia and DuPont, Washington.