DO’s bipolar diagnosis leads him to a career in psychiatry

The first time I came across Logan Noone, DO, in 2015, he wasn’t yet an attending psychiatrist. He was a premed student with a bold idea: to post a YouTube video sharing his diagnosis of bipolar disorder, despite being advised against it. I remember being struck by the courage it took to go against the grain. He was using his lived experience to fight stigma, and he was willing to risk rejection to do it.

Fast-forward one decade later, and that same authenticity has carried him from cubicles and spreadsheets to a career in psychiatry. He currently works as an outpatient psychiatrist for Kaiser Permanente in Richmond, California.

“I struggled to get out of bed, just to put work clothes on and make it through the day,” he recalled of his days as an insurance underwriter. “The minute 5 o’clock hit, I couldn’t wait to leave.”

Around the same time, he was recovering from his first episodes of bipolar I disorder. That period of struggle, paired with the disconnect he felt from his job, pushed him to reimagine his future.

“Mental health care had already changed my life. I wanted to be part of that change for others,” Dr. Noone said.

From spreadsheets to psychiatry

Leaving insurance wasn’t easy, but a chance friendship helped. He and a colleague, both miserable in their jobs, decided to apply to medical school: parallel journeys that eventually led them both to achieve their goal to become physicians.

Initially, Dr. Noone considered other careers in mental health such as nursing or nonprofit work, but psychiatry felt like the natural fit.

“It was personal. I had a yearning to do something meaningful,” he said.

Facing stigma head-on

Dr. Noone chose to disclose his bipolar disorder in his residency applications, which isn’t common, given the stigma of mental illness. He admitted that some programs may have shut the door on him, but Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-VirtuaSOM) welcomed him.

“As much as I cursed overnight calls, they made me stronger. I proved I could live in a healthy way, even with the stress and sleep deprivation residency throws at you,” Dr. Noone said.

Since bipolar disorder can be exacerbated by factors such as stress and decreased sleep, he made sure to cope and process stressors as much as possible to maintain stability. Using his employer’s free counseling sessions and other resources provided by his insurance helped keep Dr. Noone stable throughout residency.

“I was a cheerleader of the employee assistance program (EAP) and was shocked at how little my colleagues knew about this free program. You got free sessions for each major life event,” he shared.

A voice for mental health

Even before wellness became a buzzword, Dr. Noone was creating space for open conversations. In medical school, he co-wrote “We All Have Something” with his mother, a book about normalizing mental illness. He also launched “Talk Mental Health with Logan Noone” and “The Psych Guys,” two podcasts that give medical students and physicians a space to share candid conversations about mental health.

“When I was in residency, I didn’t sense much stigma. People were willing to be open and honest. That’s what made the conversations so impactful,” Dr. Noone said.

Eventually, though, between podcasting, residency and family life, the balance tipped. For his own well-being, he stepped back from the podcasts.

“Sometimes the healthiest decision is to pause,” he said.

The role of exercise and balance

Unlike Dr. Noone’s old insurance job, psychiatry doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m. “Even after a light day, your patient cases follow you home,” he explained.

The one thing that broke that cycle for him was exercise—cycling, weightlifting and eventually surfing.

“When you’re out in the water, no one can text or call. Your only job is not to drown or get eaten by a shark,” Dr. Noone joked. But beneath the humor is something real: Movement is what steadied him during training.

Dr. Noone graduated from residency in June 2025. Now, as an attending in Richmond, California, he is determined not to repeat old mistakes. His first job out of residency had him chasing long hours and quick money. He realized this type of schedule was not going to be sustainable, and, had he stayed, could potentially lead to burnout.

Dr. Noone said, “This time, I’m approaching my career with endurance in mind, not sprinting toward a finish line.”

Today, Dr. Noone is a member of the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center psychiatry team, primarily working in an outpatient setting. In this role, Dr. Noone said he feels supported to pursue his interests not only within psychiatry, but also outside of medicine.

On the topic of disclosure

Students often ask him whether they should disclose their own diagnoses. Dr. Noone’s advice is to be intentional. Early in training, he disclosed his diagnosis to connect with a patient, but unfortunately, the case evolved into a diagnosis with a worse prognosis. The disclosure, meant to build trust, ended up creating tension. Now, he shares more carefully.

“Disclosure can build rapport, but it can also backfire,” he explained. “I’ll say I live with mental illness and take medication, but I don’t always go into specifics. You have to ask yourself: Is this for the patient’s benefit, or for your own validation?”

The lesson is rooted in personal loss too. Dr. Noone’s uncle, who lived with bipolar disorder, died by suicide at a young age.

“Since I was young at the time, I never got the chance to talk to him, but I assume he carried so much shame. I never wanted that for myself,” Dr. Noone said. “That’s why I wrote ‘We All Have Something.’ Because we all do, whether it’s diabetes, heart disease or brain conditions. Why should the brain be treated differently?”

Looking ahead

What excites Dr. Noone most about life after residency is autonomy: the ability to make his own clinical decisions. Career-wise, Dr. Noone believes his role with Kaiser Permanente will grow and diversify with time. Outside of medicine, he and his wife are embracing a new city, spending weekends outdoors with their dogs and carving out time for hobbies like mountain biking, golf and surfing.

“I’m a psychiatrist, but I’m also a husband, brother, uncle, surfer and dog owner. Honoring all those parts of myself is what keeps me healthy,” Dr. Noone said.

His message to future physicians is simple but powerful: Mental illness is not disqualifying. It can shape you, challenge you and strengthen you. And for Dr. Noone, that “something” he once risked sharing on YouTube has become not just his story, but also his strength.

If you are or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, there are resources available now:

• You can seek immediate help in an emergency room or dial the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988
• The national crisis text line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741
• The Physician Support Line, a free, confidential support service run by volunteer psychiatrists, is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, at (888) 409-0141

Related reading:

Physicians and mental health: We’re making progress, but there’s still work to be done