Joseph Jaconelli gained MB BS at Sydney University in 1947. Shortly after this he came to London where he served as medical officer at Australia House in 1950. In 1952 he was a demonstrator at the Royal College of Surgeons, and in 1953 he was surgical registrar at the London Hospital. He gained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1953. He returned to Australia and in 1954-5 he was surgical registrar at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. In 1956 he gained the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He was a member of the Australian Medical Association. He died at Cronulla on 10 July 1969.