Dr. Charles Noplis is a highly accomplished psychiatrist with over a decade of experience in the field. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Kentucky, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors in 2001. After obtaining his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2008, Dr. Noplis completed his Residency Program in Psychiatry at the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry in 2012.
Dr. Noplis is board-certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, having obtained ABPN Board Certification in Psychiatry in 2013 and ABPM Board Certification in Addiction Medicine in 2019. Since 2017, he has served as the CEO and President of Noplis Psychiatry, and since early 2020, he has also been an outpatient provider at Seven Counties Services.
Dr. Noplis is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He is a SAMSHA/PCSS MAT Mentor and has held leadership positions in his field, including Managing Partner of Louisville Behavioral Health Systems from January 2013 to April 2017. He has also served on various committees, including the Baptist Hospital Patient Care Committee and the Medical Student Curriculum Committee.
Throughout his career, Dr. Noplis has been actively involved in education and has served as an ACGME Representative for PGY-1 and PGY-2. He has also been a Resident Instructor for the Psychiatry Clerkship from 2008 to 2012. Dr. Noplis is a proud alumni of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Charles Noplis is a highly respected psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to helping others. He has an exceptional academic background, extensive clinical experience, and a deep commitment to his patients’ well-being.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
On a typical day I wake up early, drink coffee, and expose myself to sunlight. Sunlight is known to increase the brain’s serotonin levels which helps me to feel focused and calm. I start my workday in the outpatient setting at 9:00am and see patients and attend team meetings until 5:00pm. To be more productive I try to complete concurrent documentation so that I don’t have a list of tasks waiting for me after my last patient, and so that I don’t forget to put anything a patient says to me in their medical chart.
How do you bring ideas to life?
To bring ideas to life I always carry a small, red notebook everywhere I go. The front is embossed with “Charles R. Noplis’ Big Ideas” and anytime I think of something, or want to remember something, it goes in my notebook. This gives me the chance to do further research on topics and really delve deep into what it would take to pull off certain things. I also like to reach out to others and get their expertise on ideas I have, especially when I know there are more qualified and knowledgeable individuals out there.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The trend that excites me the most is the growing amount of research being done on the use of psychedelics to treat anxiety and depression. I honestly believe this pharmacology will be as revolutionary as the first SSRIs.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Exercise is my number one habit, and without it I wouldn’t be half as productive as I am. From walking my dog, to lifting weights in the gym or at home, to group fitness classes, all types of exercise help both my body and mind to be in top shape. When I feel my greatest, I’m able to give the best version of myself to my family, friends, patients, and peers without sacrificing anything along the way.
What advice would you give your younger self?
If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice it would be to never underestimate the opportunity to shut up. Really, there is a huge difference between knowledge and wisdom, and I wish I would have learned that much earlier on.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
One thing I believe that almost no one ever agrees with me on is that the Star Wars Prequels are much better than people give them credit for. Sure, the original trilogy is still my favorite, but without the prequels we wouldn’t have had the chance to evaluate Anakin Skywalker’s upbringing and really get to understand his eventual fall to the Dark Side.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
The one thing I do that I always recommend to others is take time for yourself and practice positive self-care. For me self-care can look like a lot of different things, but exercise and taking care of my mind and body are of the utmost importance so that I have the capacity to take care of others.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I start to feel overwhelmed or unfocused, I take time for myself to meditate and recenter. This can look like a lot of different things but when I take care of my mind and body my stress levels lower and mental and physical health are both strengthened.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One strategy that has helped me grow in my career is forming strong relationships with my co-workers and peers, which has led to networking opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had. These opportunities have not only allowed me to grow as a person but grow my practice as I receive new patient referrals and even multiple job offers.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced in my career was having to learn a multiple new electronic medical records systems while seeing patients back-to-back, and quickly becoming overwhelmed by the amount of charting and notes I was behind on. It got to the point that I was so far behind I could no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I was honestly considering a career change. It was at this time that I researched and discovered dictation software and trained it to recognize my southern accent so that I could begin to “write” more concise yet detailed notes. If I don’t complete concurrent documentation, dictation is the one way I can stay on track. I don’t let my past struggles define me, instead I have learned from my mistakes and have grown into a better physician.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One business idea that I would give away freely is carbon-copy Post-Its. I’m always misplacing the notes I write for myself during the day at work, and if I could have a copy of them all in one place it would make a world of different. I know there are other people that would benefit from this too.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
The one piece of software that helps me be more productive is dictation software for the computer. I’m terrible at typing and being able to get my notes into my patient’s charts quickly without having to spend too much time editing them is a life saver.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One business idea that I would give away freely is carbon-copy Post-Its. I’m always misplacing the notes I write for myself during the day at work, and if I could have a copy of them all in one place it would make a world of different. I know there are other people that would benefit from this too.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The TV show that I am currently hooked on is Ted Lasso from Apple+. Not only is it funny and inspirational, the main characters never shy away from discussing their struggles with mental health. I truly believe this show is helping to end the stigma surrounding mental health and the treatment for it.
Key learnings
- Start your day early and with exposure to sunlight.
- Exercise is a key tool to lower your stress levels and improve your mental and physical health.
- Don’t let a past failure define you. Adaptation is the key to growth.
- Knowledge is knowing what to say, wisdom is knowing whether you should say it or not.
- Take care of yourself so you have the capacity to care for others.
- Give Ted Lasso and Huberman Lab a try, you won’t regret it.
Steve (Stefan) Junge hails from Germany and helps with the day-to-day publishing of interviews on IdeaMensch. While he and Mario don’t share a favorite soccer club, their enthusiasm to help entrepreneurs is a shared passion.