Hektoen was born in Westby, Wisconsin on July 2, 1863 to Norwegian immigrants.  Hektoen entered Luther in 1877, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1883.  While working to save up for med school, Hektoen took courses at the University of Madison in 1883 and 1884.  Hektoen entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago and graduated in 1887 as the valedictorian of his class.  After graduation, he interned at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, eventually becoming a pathologist there.  Throughout his career Hektoen edited several medical journals, including being the founding editor-in-chief of the American Medical Association’s Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, holding that position for nearly 25 years.  He was also the director of the John McCormick Institute of Infectious Disease in Chicago, which he helped to found.  In 1929 Dr. Hektoen was knighted by the King of Norway to the Order of St. Olaf.  After a disabling battle with diabetes, Hektoen died on July 5, 1951.

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Hektoen ble født i Westby, Wisconsin, 2. juli 1863. Foreldrene hans var norske immigranter. Han kom til Luther i 1877 og tok bachelorgraden i 1883. Mens han jobbet for å spare opp nok penger til å begynne på medisinstudiet, studerte Hektoen på University of Madison i 1883 og 1884. Hektoen kom inn på College of Physicians and Surgeons i Chicago og gikk ut derfra i 1887 som den beste studenten i klassen. Etter han var ferdig der, hadde han plikttjeneste på Cook County Hospital i Chicago, der han til slutt ble patolog. Gjennom sin karrieren redigerte Hectoen flere medisinske tidsskrift, og var blant annet redaktør av American Medical Associations Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine i nesten 25 år. Han var også direktør av John McCormick Institute of Infectious Disease i Chicago, som han bidro til å grunnlegge. I 1929 fikk Hektoen St. Olaf ordenen. Etter en lang kamp mot sukkersjuke, døde Hektoen 5. juli 1951.