Douglas Noordsy

Douglas Noordsy serves as Clinical Professor and Director of Lifestyle Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he has revolutionized the integration of exercise and lifestyle interventions in psychiatric care. After earning his MD from Washington University School of Medicine and completing his residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, he spent 25 years as Professor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine before joining Stanford in 2015. His research focuses on physical exercise's role in preventing early psychosis progression and improving outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, demonstrating exercise's positive effects on brain volume and cognition. As Director of Stanford's Lifestyle & Sports Psychiatry Special Initiative and psychiatrist at the INSPIRE Early Psychosis Clinic, he champions innovative approaches combining exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications with traditional psychiatric treatments. His contributions have earned him numerous honors, including the NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award and membership in prestigious organizations including the Schizophrenia International Research Society and the International Early Psychosis Association. He serves on editorial advisory boards for multiple journals including Community Mental Health Journal and The Journal of Dual Diagnosis, while continuing to advance the field through research on exercise's neurobiological effects and advocacy for patient-centered, collaborative care approaches that empower individuals in their recovery journey.