If Owen Tekelenburg ’26 achieves his goal of becoming a cardiologist, he will have quite a story about what attracted him to the profession.
The student who never misses a beat, juggling science studies, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities and bluegrass music, was diagnosed with heart disease after his first year at Denison.
A routine medical exam in the summer of 2023 detected an irregular heart rhythm that required surgery to correct. Instead of viewing the health crisis as a sign of slowing down, Tekelenburg treated the process like a research project.
“It’s crazy to say, but I was really excited about every meeting, every screening,” the Zelienople, Pennsylvania, native said. “I enjoyed learning about my operation – it was a cardiac ablation – and what happened. »
Tekelenburg emerged with a clean bill of health and a new direction. Already in pre-medicine, the biology student with a minor of American origin wants to become a cardiac surgeon.
It’s all part of the full-throttle Owen Tekelenburg experience.
“He seems to me to be someone who takes full advantage of a liberal arts education,” said associate professor of biology Lina Yoo, who serves as his advisor. “He has a lot of passions and a great go-getter attitude. »
Tekelenburg has dreamed of a medical career since fifth grade, taking a full schedule of science classes in high school. But this gregarious former swimmer, son of Dutch immigrants, is a man of many interests.
He considered attending other colleges, but none encouraged him as much as Denison to explore his interests and desire to stay active.
“I couldn’t be happier with my choice of schools,” Tekelenburg said. “I am able to get involved in different academic activities and play a leadership role in activities.”
After playing cello in high school, Tekelenburg switched to banjo and became a member of Denison’s bluegrass ensemble. Not only does he play an instrument (Tekelenburg has taken private banjo lessons for the past four semesters), but he is also a singer.
“Owen has stepped up his efforts this semester, which is great to see,” said Adam Schlenker, a studio instructor who directs the ensemble and coordinates the American Roots program. “He told me he wasn’t going to take a back seat, and he kept that commitment.”
Her workload outside of the classroom reads like a decathlon of part-time jobs and extracurricular involvements. He is an admissions professor, student sports coach, Vail Series Usher, Fellow/First Year Orientation Leader, and Pharmacy Technician at CVS. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he also serves as president of the Interfraternity Council for the 2024-25 school year and is a member of the Denison University sailing team.
A year after heart surgery, Tekelenburg spent the summer of 2024 studying abroad in Jordan, where he improved his Arabic language skills and cultural awareness. He continues to refine them by meeting associate professor of Arabic Hanada Al-Masri.
Yoo spoke to Tekelenburg about the dangers of stretching himself too thin — he no longer majors in Middle Eastern and North African studies — but she acknowledges that he is an excellent biology student who will make summer research in 2025.
“He is extremely motivated,” Yoo said, “and he has a vision for what he wants to do as a scientist.”
Tekelenburg, who thought about focusing on orthopedics before his heart stopped, believes his broad experiences at Denison will increase his chances of getting into medical school. If he achieves his goal of becoming a cardiologist, Tekelenburg knows he will need a diversion to relieve stress.
Putting down the scalpel and picking up a banjo is a way to relax.
“I love being part of the bluegrass ensemble,” Tekelenburg said. “I plan to continue performing in medical school, whether through being part of a regional band or volunteering for music therapy sessions. And I still see myself being a part of the bluegrass community later in life.