Dr. Joel graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1979 after attending Duke University. A Maryland native, he has practiced dentistry for adults and children full-time at Ten Oaks Plaza since its opening in 1983. Dr. Joel is also a trained forensic dentist. He has attended a weeklong course in Forensic Dentistry at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. As a member of the Maryland Committee on Forensic Dentistry, Dr. Joel makes himself available to local law enforcement officials for consultation. Because of his expertise, in the event of a mass disaster, Dr. Joel would be part of a team with the unpleasant but necessary task of body identification. In preparation for this, Dr. Joel has participated in a "mock disaster" drill at BWI airport.

In his time away from dentistry, Dr. Joel enjoys golf, college basketball, the Orioles and the Ravens, cooking, playing Scrabble, birdwatching, photography, and of course astronomy. He, his wife Sally, and two sons reside in Clarksville.

Dr. Joel is a member of the American Dental Association, Maryland State Dental Association, Howard County Dental Association, Ellicott City Sunrise Rotary, and the Glenwood Lions Club.

For his work with the area's young astronomers, Dr. Joel (Stardoc) has been featured in articles in Columbia Magazine, Maryland Family Magazine, and the Howard County Times.