Joseph Hlavin grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio and graduated in June of 1991. He originally became NCCPA board certified in 1991 and re-certified in 1998. He has held licensure in both the state of Michigan and the state of Oklahoma.  

He has held several appointments: Physician Assistant liaison to Membership Committee, American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS),Physician Assistant liaison to Scientific Program Committee; Immediate Past-President,  Association of Neurosurgical Physician Assistants.

Joseph Hlavin is married with two children.