Physicians | Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital

Charles A. Bongiorno, M.D, Medical Director

Dr. Bongiorno grew up in Moorestown NJ, a suburb of Philadelphia, PA, and has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Villanova University, and a degree in Medicine from Virginia Commonwealth University – Medical College of Virginia.

He trained at Jefferson University Hospital for his General Psychiatry Residency. During his residency years, he won the top Resident Teaching Award and was honored to be inducted into AOA (Alpha Omega Alpha). He was later selected to be a Co-Chief Psychiatry Fellow and co-authored a textbook chapter on genetic influences in Psychiatry.

After graduating from training, he helped to build a Department of Behavioral Health from the ground up in Southwestern Wyoming at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and served as both the Medical Director of Behavioral Health and the Chairman of the Department of Medicine there. He provided expert lectures on suicide to the County Commissioners and testified on involuntary commitment procedures for the State Legislature. He then served as the Medical Director at Indian River Medical Center (now part of the Cleveland Clinic) in Vero Beach, FL, and then went on to become the GS15 Medical Director of the Mental Health Clinic at Eglin Air Force Base in Northern Florida. During his time working for the USAF, Dr. Bongiorno also served as the Chief Liaison to the “AMRO” Fitness for Duty Board. Dr. Bongiorno has extensive university-level medical training, administrative and leadership experience, as well as military medicine and military occupational medicine expertise. He is experienced in teaching trainees and serving on core hospital committees to promote institutional and customer success.

Dr. Bongiorno is a Board-Certified physician who has been working at ECBH full-time since August of 2021 when he was also voted in as the President of the Medical Staff. Dr. Bongiorno loves working at ECBH and has remarked that: “The people and the culture here are the reason why it is such a fantastic place to work … I believe in the philosophy of people, process, and product.”

He is keenly aware that “invisible” emotional wounds exist in our patients, particularly in our military members and Veterans, and he shares the Hospital’s Mission to make a difference in the lives we serve here. One of his core goals is excellent customer service and he recognizes that this begins with early rapport-building with as well as transparency and honesty in the doctor-patient relationship.Read More

Roy Deal, MD, Director of Military Services

Dr. Deal was born in Kansas and raised in Florida. He says he will always call Panama City, Florida, his home because his parents have always maintained a residence in our community. He attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, during his undergraduate studies, where he was awarded his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Zoology and Psychology. Read More

Bianca Harbison, MD

Dr. Harbison was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She attended the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She continued her graduate studies at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where she received her Medical Degree. Read More

Diana Melazzo, DO, ABPN, Outpatient Medical Director

Dr. Melazzo is a Pennsylvania native. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She then attended Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she was awarded her Medical Degree. Read More

Aldorian Chaney, M.D., M.P.H

Dr. Aldorian Chaney works with Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital’s patients primarily at our outpatient locations. Dr. Chaney was born in Gainesville, Florida but grew up in Marietta, Georgia. She attended the University of Pittsburgh for her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and then completed her Masters of Public Health from Georgia Southern University. Read More

Nadine Robertson, MD

Dr. Robertson provides Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital with five years of experience in the field after serving at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a resident physician in psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience. Read More

Christopher Michaelson, DO

Dr. Michaelson serves the Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital as an inpatient psychiatrist. Dr. Michaelson graduated with a Bachelor of Science from California State Polytechnic University, he also completed post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies programs from the University of Southern California and Auburn University. Read More

Wei Hu, MD

Dr. Hu works with the patients of Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital as a psychiatrist for the inpatient facility. Read More

Christina Zeisler, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Christina Zeisler, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a provider at our Okaloosa Outpatient Facility in Fort Walton Beach. She graduated from the Registered Nursing Program at Okaloosa-Walton College in 2006. Read More

Tabitha World, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Tabitha World, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She works at the inpatient hospital and is dedicated to transforming lives through compassionate care and mental health advocacy. Read More

Claire Joy Tiglao DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Claire finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Central Luzon Doctor’s Hospital-Educational Institution in Tarlac City, Philippines in 2005 and received her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Read More

Brittany Whitfield APRN, PMHNP-BC

Brittany primarily see patients in our outpatient facilities. She graduated from the Registered Nursing Program at Chipola College in 2006 and started working at Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital in 2007. Read More

Jessica Petch, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Jessica Petch works in all the inpatient unit’s as well as our outpatient center in Panama City and does ER consultation for ECBH. She Graduated from Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) with an Associates in Science in the Registered Nurse program. Read More

Kevin Thompson, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Kevin Thompson started working at Emerald Coast Behavioral 2 years ago after finishing a long career in the United States Military. Because of Kevin’s experience working in the military and alongside of our military service members he understands their unique challenges. Read More

Emmie Dickerson, APRN, FNP-C

Emmie Dickerson brings over 24 years of experience in her field to Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Auburn University, where she later achieved a Master of Science in Nursing, certified in Family Practice. Read More

Paula Allen, APRN, FNP-BC

Paula Allen serves Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital team as a Nurse Practitioner. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University College of Nursing. Read More

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