If Owen Tekelenburg ’26 fulfills his goal of becoming a cardiologist, he will have quite the story of what drew him to the profession.
The student who never misses a beat juggling scientific study, part-time jobs, extra-curricular activities, and bluegrass music was diagnosed with a heart condition following his first year at Denison.
A routine health screening in the summer of 2023 detected an irregular heartbeat that required surgery to correct. Instead of seeing the health scare as a sign to slow down, Tekelenburg treated the process as a research project.
“It’s crazy to say, but I was really excited about every appointment, every screening,” said the native of Zelienople, Pennsylvania. “I enjoyed learning about my surgery — it was a heart ablation — and what went into it.”
Tekelenburg emerged with a clean bill of health and a new focus. Already on a pre-med track, the biology major with an American roots minor wants to be a heart surgeon.
It’s all part of the full-throttle Owen Tekelenburg Experience.
“He stands out to me as someone who is taking full advantage of a liberal arts education,” said biology associate professor 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 complement of science classes in high school. But the gregarious former swimmer, the son of Dutch immigrants, is a man of many interests.
He considered attending other colleges, but none encouraged him to explore his interests and desires to stay active more than Denison.
“I could not be happier with my choice of schools,” Tekelenburg said. “I’m able to be involved in different academic pursuits and take a leadership role in activities.”
After playing cello in high school, Tekelenburg transitioned to banjo and became a member of Denison’s bluegrass ensemble. He not only plays an instrument — Tekelenburg has taken private banjo lessons the past four semesters — but he’s also a vocalist.
“Owen has stepped up this semester, which is great to see,” said Adam Schlenker, a studio instructor who directs the ensemble and coordinates the American roots program. “He’s expressed to me that he’s not going to take a back seat, and he’s followed through on that commitment.”
His workload outside the classroom reads like a decathlon of part-time employment and extra-curricular involvement. He serves as an admission docent, a student athletic trainer, a Vail Series usher, a first-year fellow/orientation leader, and a pharmacy technician at CVS. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he’s also the president of the Interfraternity Council for the 2024-25 school year, and is part of the Denison University sailing team.
A year after heart surgery, Tekelenburg spent the summer of 2024 studying abroad in Jordan, where he enhanced his Arabic language skills and cultural awareness. He continues to refine them by meeting with Arabic associate professor Hanada Al-Masri.
Yoo has spoken to Tekelenburg about the perils of stretching himself too thin — he no longer has a concentration in Middle Eastern North African studies — but she acknowledges he’s an excellent biology student who will be doing summer research in 2025.
“He’s extremely motivated,” Yoo said, “and he has a vision of what he wants to do as a scientist.”
Tekelenburg, who thought of focusing on orthopedics before his heart skipped a beat, believes his vast experiences at Denison will enhance his chances of getting into medical school. If he realizes his goal of becoming a cardiologist, Tekelenburg knows he will need a stress-relieving diversion.
Putting down the scalpel and picking up a banjo is one way to relax.
“I love being part of the bluegrass ensemble,” Tekelenburg said. “I plan to keep playing in medical school whether it’s part of a regional group or volunteering for music therapy sessions. And, I still see myself being part of the bluegrass community later in life.”
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