One Hurdle at a Time

SGA President Leading the Charge

• By Suzanna Cisneros
• November 4, 2016

Born and raised outside of San Antonio in the Fair Oaks area, Cheyenne Mangold vividly remembers a day that would later lead her to a career decision.

 

“I was 4 or 5 and it was an icy day,” Mangold said. “My brother and I were arguing so my dad turned to see us and lost control of the car.”

 

The Mangold family hit an SUV head on and her dad went partially through the windshield. Her brother was seated in the middle so Cheyenne, who was 5, was the only one in a seat belt. 

 

“I remember trying to wake my brother and father up,” Mangold said. “I remember being taken to a trauma unit and I especially remember the doctors working their magic. Ever since then, I have loved the ability of health care professionals to save and help. Because of them, my father and brother survived.”

 

Mangold attended Texas Military Institute and also graduated from Washington and Jefferson College majoring in cellular biology with minors in chemistry and sociology. Not only did she excel in academics but also athletics. Mangold is a three-time All American hurdler and 400 track runner.

 

Mangold’s interest in studying the preventative side of medicine is key now as she decides on her long-term career goals.

 

“In college, I loved studying the preventative aspect of health,” Mangold said. “Diseases that if a person waits too long to treat like hypertension or diabetes can become life changing. When a person is educated early on, outcomes can be addressed before they happen.”

 

That love of sociology and learning about the preventative side of medicine led Mangold to enroll in the Master’s of Public Health (MPH) program. This semester, she took the remainder of her second year of medical school to work on her MPH degree.

 

“The MPH program is a perfect fit with my medical degree,” Mangold said. “And it also allows me time to work in my Student Government Association (SGA) role.”

 

After serving as SGA vice president of operations last year, Mangold serves as the SGA president this year along with her executive leaders:

 

“There are so many politics in health care policy and to see and work with people and how those aspects work with writing policy, working with SGA officers can make an impact,” Mangold said.

 

This year’s executive team wanted to make the extra effort to get into the community more, including regional campuses.

 

This year the executive SGA team is made up of all women, something Mangold is appreciative of.

 

“It is similar to what is setting the standard in health care,” Mangold said. “It demonstrates how far women have come in the health care field. Being the first all-women SGA executive team is inspiring. Our team is awesome and we work really well together. Each of us is invested in SGA, everyone contributes.”

 

This year’s SGA has hosted a Night Walk in October and also a Halloween Wag and Walk. In December, the SGA will host a policeman appreciation event. The key for Mangold is to make sure the TTUHSC SGA is out in the community and improving relationships with students from all campuses.

 

For now, Mangold is not sure of her career hurdles. She either hopes to work as an orthopaedic surgeon, emergency medicine doctor or an obstetrician. She wishes the decision were as simple as deciding on which medical school to attend. When Mangold applied to medical school, she was scheduled for the last day of the interview season.

 

“I got here and loved it,” Mangold said. “It was that going back to Texas and the family environment, and most of all, I was supposed to be here. I was sold on it! I am happy it was the choice I made.”