CEO & Doctors - Coastal Harbor Health System | Compassion Quality Excellence

Ray Heckerman, Chief Executive Officer, has worked in hospital administration since 1989 with a focus on behavioral health programs for children. Before coming to Coastal Harbor, he served as Vice President of Sunshine Youth Services in Florida, Vice President of Operations at Magellan Health Services and CEO of Charter Behavioral Health System in Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to his administrative experience, Ray worked with the state of Florida, where he served as a teacher and later provided oversight of the state's mental health services for children. His extensive background in all areas of inpatient psychiatric treatment for children has brought him to Coastal Harbor where he oversees the operations of running a nationally recognized program designed specifically to serve children and families. Ray earned his Bachelors Degree in Education at Florida Atlantic University and an M.S. in Management and Public Services at Nova Southeastern University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Dr. Edward Merves, serves as Medical Director for Coastal Harbor. Dr. Merves obtained both his Bachelor of Science and his Doctor of Medicine from Ohio State University, is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in child psychiatry and is also a retired Colonel from the U.S. Army Medical Corp. His professional experiences include holding the title of Director of the Children's Unit for Charter Psychiatric Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, Chief of the Child Psychiatry Service at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, as well as having his own private practice in Savannah, Georgia. Dr. Merves has been elected for two terms to the Tybee Island, Georgia City Council and is a past member of the Coastal Georgia Board of Directors for the YMCA.

Dr. Chrissie Clure, is one of four attending physicians at Coastal Harbor. Dr. Clure graduated from West Georgia College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and from the Medical College of Georgia with her Doctor of Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as by the American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has served as Staff Psychiatrist for numerous mental health centers, was the Assistant Director of the Adolescent Dual Diagnosis Program at the Medical University of South Carolina and currently acts as the Clinical Director for the Lakeside Crisis Stabilization Unit for Children and Adolescents in Savannah, Georgia. In addition, Dr. Clure is also currently a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Reemon Bishara, received his MD in 1992 from J.W.G. University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 1995, he moved to the United States and in 1996 he passed the American Board Examinations. Dr. Bishara has worked in several disciplines of psychiatry including adolescents, family, and adult care. He served as the Medical Director of the Outpatient Clinic at the Child and Family Institute of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City before moving to Savannah. During his time as Medical Director, he was awarded Supervisor of the Year in 2004. He currently serves as the full-time Clinical Director of the Georgia Regional Hospital in addition to his duties with Coastal Harbor Health Systems. Dr. Bishara is a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is double board certified in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry as well as certified to administer Buprenorphine.

Dr. Manoj K. Dass, received his M.D. from the Institute of Medicine in Manda lay, Burma with a specialty in psychiatry. In addition to his responsibilities at Coastal Harbor, Dr. Dass is in private practice in Savannah, Georgia as well. He has served as Psychiatric Consultant for Gateway Mental Health Clinic and as the Medical Director of Admissions at Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah.

Dr. David Dobson, received his MD in 2001 from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He was certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2007. Dr. Dobson served as the Director of Inpatient Services at Winn Army Community Hospital at Fort Stewart, GA from 2008-2009. Prior to that time, he acted as the Clinic Chief at Tuttle Army Health Clinic. He has also served as a consultant to inpatient psychiatric facilities and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association. Upon his retirement from the military in July 2009, he was offered a position with the Dept. of Defense.

Dr. Arnold Negrin, graduated from Augusta College in Augusta, Georgia as a Pre-med Psychology Major. He received his M.D. from Universidad Central Del Este in the Dominican Republic in 1984 specializing in child psychiatry. Dr. Negrin has served as a Consulting Psychiatrist for the Georgia State Prison and the Claxton Detention Center in Claxton, Georgia and was also the Psychiatric Director as well as Medical Director for Charter of Savannah. He currently has an extensive private practice in Savannah.