Dov Degen
DoctorAdvocate
Australia
Dov Degen is an Australian doctor who is dual-trained in nephrology and general medicine. Alongside his clinical and teaching work, he has become a mental-health advocate, speaking publicly about living with bipolar disorder and about stigma within medicine and healthcare. [3][4]
Career and work
Degen is a dual-trained nephrologist and general medicine physician who has worked across both public and private healthcare in Australia. He holds a public appointment at Eastern Health and has also worked with Epworth, Cabrini Health and other Melbourne health services. His clinical interests include kidney disease, hypertension, peri-operative medicine and chronic disease management. [3]
Medical education has also been a substantial part of his career. Degen served as Director of Physician Education at Eastern Health from 2018 to 2022, has taught at Monash University and the University of Melbourne, and has mentored medical students and junior doctors. He has also provided specialist care in regional and remote communities. [6][5]
In 2026, Degen was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to medicine and mental-health support. [6]
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
Jewish Care Victoria, 2016Dov’s Story – Living with Bipolar Disorder A first-person account covering his bipolar diagnosis, hospitalization during medical school, experiences of extreme mood states, stigma and isolation, and his ability to maintain a productive life between episodes.
article or webpageABC News, 2016One third of world’s medical students experience depression, few seek treatment Reports that Degen was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during his second year of medical school and includes his first-person account of markedly altered beliefs during that period.
article or webpageOfficial professional websiteDr Dov Degen OAM Provides his qualifications and professional background as a nephrologist and general medicine physician, as well as appointments, teaching and medical interests.
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Eastern Health, 2026Important Message From Award Winning Doctor Covers Degen’s mental-health advocacy, his work with SANE Australia and Beyond Blue, and his perspective on stigma and vulnerability among healthcare professionals.
article or webpageEastern Health, 2026Congratulations Dr Dov Degen OAM Describes his medical career, work in medical education and regional healthcare, public disclosure of bipolar disorder and mental-health advocacy.
article or webpageGovernor-General of Australia2026 King’s Birthday Honours Official record of Degen receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine and mental-health support.
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Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Dov Degen and their experiences.
- Doctors get unwell, tooPodcast · On the Same Wavelength, 2023
A podcast in which Degen discusses living with bipolar disorder during medical training and the challenges healthcare professionals can face when seeking support.
- Dr Dov Degen OAM on why mental health needs real policy changePodcast · SBS Hebrew, 2026
A later interview focused on stigma, shortcomings in mental-health services, disclosure and Degen’s argument for broader cultural and policy change.
- Nephrologist honoured for serviceInterview · the limbic, 2026
An interview following his OAM in which Degen discusses his bipolar diagnosis, stigma within medicine, why he began advocating publicly and his goal of changing how healthcare institutions respond to clinicians with mental-health difficulties.