Cheyenne Grubbs, M.D.

What this award means: I am profoundly grateful for this honor and will carry forward the empathy, commitment to justice, and patient-centered care I have witnessed and learned from my classmates, residents, and faculty. Entering the field of psychiatry at this moment is incredibly exciting, and it is surreal to be surrounded by so many brilliant, curious, and passionate future psychiatrists.

Mentor comment: Through her clinical work, research, and advocacy, Cheyenne has demonstrated a dedication to serving with humility and purpose. Her experiences have shaped not only a clear professional path, but a call to action grounded in compassion and a commitment to a more just future for her patients. – Chadrick Lane, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Program Director of the Neurology-Psychiatry Combined Residency

Background and family: I am both white and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma who grew up in Northeast Texas. My sisters both work in healthcare: One is a practicing anesthesiologist, the first doctor in our family, and the other is in her second year of veterinary school. My identity has largely been shaped by our sisterhood, and much of who I am now reflects the relationships we share. I married my high school sweetheart, and his support gave me the confidence to pursue this career path with conviction. We now have a young son, and being his mom is my most important and cherished role.

College: I received a Bachelor of Business Administration from UT Austin, where I was involved with the Native American and Indigenous Collective, Texas Orange Jackets, and the Canfield Business Honors Program.

What led to your career path: Becoming a doctor was never my childhood dream. I was drawn to psychiatry after a challenging freshman year of college, when I learned more about myself, my family, and the broader health disparities affecting Native and Indigenous youth. I committed myself to challenging outdated narratives, building safer spaces within medicine, and working alongside others to reimagine how comprehensive psychiatric care can better serve the communities we come from.

UTSW activities: I was co-President of the UTSW Chapter of the Association of Native American Medical Students and later served on the national board as the Allied Health Professions Liaison. My time in training also included several meaningful research projects, mentorship programs, and Tribal Health Graduate Medical Education advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. Additionally, I had the privilege of being inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and am on the Mental Health and Wellness Committee.

What words describe your UTSW experience: Demanding and transformative.

One tip for medical school success: Just keep going. Transition and growth are scary at first, but there is so much life ahead of you!

Favorite way to relieve stress: I’m happiest outdoors and love cooking, playing sports, and spending time with family and friends.

Surprising fact: My husband and I secretly eloped to Italy! My little sister was ordained online and organized the ceremony virtually.

Future plans: Psychiatry demands that we know the person in front of us and recognizes that humans often exist in the “gray.” This approach to medicine allows me to combine my interests in reproductive, cultural, and integrative psychiatry to provide the comprehensive, nuanced care that underserved patients and communities deserve. I hope to bring these tools to my residency at UT Southwestern and my future work as a child and adolescent psychiatrist in an outpatient community setting.

About the award: The award honors a student for excellent work in psychiatry and mental health.