Fri, Aug 1, 2025 at 06:00 PM

More Than Medicine: Dr. Megan Zeien

Dr. Zeien is an OBGYN at Medical Centers OBGYN North and a woman of many talents and even more heart. Her story, full of compassion, travel, and perspective, is a perfect fit for our More Than Medicine series—where we introduce you to the human side of our physicians, the parts that make them more than just exceptional caregivers.

When Dr. Megan Zeien steps out of the exam room, her world doesn’t slow down. Her days are spent caring for women, but her weekends not on call? Those are all about quality time, curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Saturday Snuggles and Lake Days

“A typical Saturday is about focusing on my family,” she says. “Most of the time we have something going on with our kids. But we try to start the day with Saturday morning snuggles—that’s our time to just be together and enjoy those moments while they’re short-lived.”

Dr. Zeien and her husband have two children, ages 11 and 13, and their lives are filled with activity—whether it’s on the lake in the summer or hiking trails in the winter.

“Doing things together as a family is really important to us,” she says. “We love to go to concerts, travel, and just experience life together.”

Galápagos, Blackouts, and Life Lessons

Her family recently took a trip to the Galápagos Islands.

“Part of the joy for me is seeing my kids experience something for the first time. You learn about these incredible things in nature, but to see them in person, with your kids? That’s special.”

That trip, like many others, was about more than just sightseeing.

“We’ve caught the travel bug,” she laughs. “Travel teaches flexibility and appreciation for other cultures.”

On that same trip, her children experienced rolling blackouts in Ecuador.

“It was eye-opening for them. They learned to plan around power outages and saw firsthand how it affected people and businesses. It gave them perspective on things we often take for granted.”

Global Heart, Local Impact

Dr. Zeien’s love for people and new places runs deep. She’s traveled to at least 25 countries, but two of her most meaningful experiences happened early in life.

In college, she nannied for 14 months in Switzerland.

“The parents were both physicians and their practice was attached to the house. It gave me a whole new appreciation for medicine and culture.”

She explored Europe during that time, fueling a love for global travel that hasn’t slowed since.

Between medical school and residency, she and her husband did a round-the-world trip, stopping in China, Korea, Guam, Mongolia, and several European countries.

She also did medical mission work in Venezuela, traveling with mobile clinics into underserved barrios.

“The most profound thing we could do for people was give them glasses. To watch someone go from barely seeing to being able to read again—that was powerful.”

She also spent time treating children with parasites, seeing up close the disparities in basic health care many of us rarely consider.

Healing Through Music and Nature

When Dr. Zeien needs to recharge, you’ll find her at a piano.

“Music has always been my outlet,” she says. “I sing and perform at church every Sunday and have for years. I can read music, but now I also play by ear. Sometimes, there are no words for what I’m feeling, but I can express it through music.”

Her playlist is eclectic.

“The only genre we really don’t listen to is country—everything else is fair game,” she jokes.

And she’s even found health benefits in her musical passion.

“I saw a study once that said attending live music twice a month can add nine years to your life. I have no idea how accurate that is, but I believe there’s something to it.”

Nature is another balm for her soul. Living on 50 acres, Dr. Zeien and her family hike regularly.

“Being able to step away from the craziness and be surrounded by something that’s been here long before us—that grounds me.”

Loving Others, Loving Yourself

Her core life philosophy is simple but profound: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

“But a lot of people only do one or the other,” she says. “Especially working with women, I find myself encouraging them to love themselves more. We often put ourselves last. But loving yourself allows you to care for others even better.”

If she weren’t a physician, Dr. Zeien imagines she’d still be in a field helping others—perhaps as a counselor, musician, or photographer.

“Even after I retire from practicing here, I’d love to do locums and serve around the world. My husband and I just love helping people and giving back.”

Dr. Zeien’s story is a reminder that healing takes many forms. Whether she’s delivering babies in Marshall County, singing on Sunday mornings or handing out glasses in Venezuela, she brings light and compassion to every space she steps into.

She’s a doctor, yes—but she’s also a world traveler, a musician, a mom, a teacher of life lessons, and a fierce advocate for finding joy wherever you are. And that’s exactly what More Than Medicine is all about.