The multifaceted senior is a psychological and brain sciences major, music minor, skilled trombonist, and a member of WashU’s Emergency Support Team. Next up: the University of Cambridge.
Listen to his musical composition “Grumble” and you’ll get an idea of what senior Elijah Darden is all about.
The piece, performed by the WashU jazz ensemble in 2023, starts with notes from a single baritone sax, quickly followed by a second saxophone and bass guitar. As the piece expands, the sound rises, and other instruments fill in. Then, a new motif is introduced, and soloists — first a saxophone, then a trombone played by Darden himself — each have moments to shine. Different rhythms and phrases evoke new moods and emotions, forming a cohesive whole.
The song, one of many Darden composed during his time at WashU, reflects his approach to his undergraduate years — devoting passion and depth to diverse interests, all converging toward a larger purpose.
Darden’s multifaceted interests in the arts and sciences began at an early age, when he joined the “STEAM team” at his Naperville, Illinois, middle school. This program, which expanded the traditional science, technology, engineering, and math focus to include art, was a perfect fit for his interests. He was already playing the piano and, by the fifth grade, had taken up the trombone, later mastering several other brass instruments. Even at a young age, he recognized music would remain a constant companion on his journey toward a greater calling in healthcare.
“I knew I wanted to be in healthcare and work on improving health equity, but I didn’t know if I wanted to do that through policy and administration or directly through patient care,” Darden said. So, the summer after his high school graduation, he began training to become a certified emergency medical technician. “Being an EMT solidified that I want to work with individuals and help them have the highest level of comfort, care, and agency.”
When Darden arrived at WashU in 2021, he quickly put his certification to work, joining the Emergency Support Team (EST), a student-run volunteer group that helps respond to campus emergencies. The group’s members are all EMT and CPR certified and must provide the same level of care as other EMS agencies. Darden rose through the EST’s ranks, becoming president his senior year. During his time with the organization, he focused on making training programs more accessible and affordable. He secured Student Union funding to subsidize CPR training fees for students and introduced classes to teach bystanders how to staunch bleeding.
which hosts clinics for the campus community. (Photo courtesy of
Elijah Darden)
While Darden’s extracurricular achievements are remarkable, he considers his major in psychological and brain sciences and minor in music the core of his WashU experience. A music composition workshop he took his first year proved foundational, as did a sophomore psychology course, “Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination.” The latter profoundly shaped his perspective on healthcare, influencing his understanding of the field’s systemic challenges and his approach as a first responder.
Though the two fields might initially seem unrelated, Darden sees a deep connection between his studies in music and science. “I like the idea of the foundations of different fields building upon one another,” he explained. In his courses, he explored how music can unite or divide people — concepts rooted in human psychology and the social dynamics of music. “I think about it more broadly when I think about medicine,” he said. “You need an interdisciplinary perspective to examine how different fields reach the same conclusions from distinct viewpoints.”
Darden’s efforts have earned recognition from the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation, which named WashU a HEARTSafe Campus, and the Missouri Public Health Association, which commended the EST for its public health contributions in Missouri. He was also honored by the Student Union with a leadership award and by the music department with a Clare M. Westmont Award recognizing student contributions in the classroom and concert hall. In 2024, he was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, one of the most prestigious academic honors in the world. A few months later, he was honored with the equally impressive Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which fully funds postgraduate study and research at the University of Cambridge.
When it comes to fellowships, “some doors will close, and others will open,” Darden said. “The most important thing is discovering more about yourself — your passions, your academic and professional goals, your purpose, and the impact you want to make.”
This story appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of Ampersand magazine. See more stories from the magazine and browse our archives.
