Dr. Tenbrink attended Brigham Young University for his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training. He went to Physical Therapy school at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, MN. While there, he practiced as an Athletic Trainer at Henry Sibley High School and the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. Following Graduation, he began in northwest Washington working in various practice settings including acute care, skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation, becoming the Center Coordinator of Clinical Education for Northwest Physical Therapy, working with PT and PTA Assistant students. He moved as clinic director at Ironwood Drive Physical Therapy in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. While pursuing his PhD at the University of Idaho, he worked as the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education for the Athletic Training program. Joel became the Program Director of a developing consortium program of 4 colleges to provide a PTA program across most of the state. After completing his PhD, he joined the faculty of RMUoHP in January 2013 as Director of Clinical Education. He later accepted the position of Assistant Program Director.
Dr. Tenbrink is co-chair of the IPE committee and coordinates the adjunct faculty within the DPT program. He also designed and runs the academic faculty residency. Dr. Tenbrink teaches in the musculoskeletal course series and leads differential diagnosis.