Joel has been involved with Medan since the very beginning when Anita (founder) began developing plans for serving the medical needs of children in Ethiopia. He has helped to develop the many non-medical aspects of the organization, as his background is in education and business. He serves as the secretary on the board of directors for Medan, and plays a huge role in development and strategic planning. The most life-changing and perspective-shaping experiences of his life have occurred while spending time in underdeveloped countries with people from different cultures and backgrounds, and those experiences are what drive his passion for seeing consistent healthcare available to those who do not have it. Joel loves ideas and learning and listens to many podcasts about everything from history to psychology to entertainment. He also enjoys visiting museums and doing crossword puzzles and many other things traditionally reserved for someone twice his age.