In 2016, Joe Lex retired after more than 45 years in emergency medicine. His career
began as a combat medic in Vietnam (1968–69), followed by years as an ER tech and
registered nurse before starting medical school at age 35. He spent 14 years as a
community ER doctor, then 13 years teaching at Temple University in Philadelphia,
where he retired as a professor. Joe became one of the most recognized emergency
medicine educators globally, helping to establish training programs in Poland,
Argentina, Vietnam, South Africa, and Myanmar. Known as the “Godfather of Free Open
Access Medical Education,” he made over a thousand lectures available online. The
American Academy of Emergency Medicine renamed its top teaching award the Joe Lex
Educator of the Year Award in his honor.

After retirement, Joe missed research and teaching. He began volunteering as a tour
guide at Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery, leading to the podcast All Bones
Considered: Laurel Hill Stories, which features more than 400 residents of Laurel Hill East
and West. He later launched Biographical Bytes from Bala to explore lives at Laurel Hill
West in Bala Cynwyd. Despite being DIY and low-tech, his podcasts have been
downloaded over 75,000 times, placing them in the top 25% globally.

In 2024, Joe adapted some podcast scripts into All Bones Considered: 52 Laurel Hill
Women, highlighting remarkable women who shaped Philadelphia and the world.
Meet him LIVE and pick up an autographed copy at this Author Event!