Dr. Dhvanit Vijapura, M.D.

A middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing black glasses, a blue dress shirt, and a dark blazer, smiling and looking slightly to the side in an indoor setting.
Certificate from the Florida Department of Financial Services designating Dhvanit Vijapura as a Certified Expert Medical Advisor, valid from August 13, 2025 to August 31, 2027, with official seals and license information.

Introduction

Dr. Dhvanit K. Vijapura, affectionately known to patients as Dr. VJ, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Addiction Medicine Specialist with over 30 years of clinical experience serving the Panama City and greater Bay County region. As one of the most established and trusted psychiatrists in Northwest Florida, Dr. Vijapura combines clinical precision with compassionate care to help patients achieve lasting recovery and restored function.

Dr. Vijapura is dually board-certified in General Psychiatry (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology) and Addiction Medicine (American Board of Preventive Medicine, ABMS-recognized). He also serves as a Certified Expert Medical Advisor with the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation, bringing unparalleled expertise in evaluating and treating occupational trauma and complex Workers’ Compensation cases.

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Vijapura provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, counseling, and medication management for a wide range of conditions—including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and substance use disorders. He is particularly recognized for his skill in medication management, ensuring safe, evidence-based treatment that supports both clinical improvement and functional outcomes. His practice integrates advanced modalities such as Medication-Assisted Therapy (Buprenorphine/Suboxone), group therapy, and the 12-step recovery model, enabling sustained recovery across both general and occupational settings.

Workers’ Compensation & Occupational Psychiatry

With decades of experience in occupational mental health, Dr. Vijapura has become one of Florida’s leading psychiatric specialists for Workers’ Compensation and first responder cases. He provides objective, timely, and defensible evaluations that support accurate claim resolution while guiding patients toward meaningful recovery and return-to-work readiness. His clinic operates with a proactive case-liaison model, ensuring seamless collaboration with carriers, adjusters, case managers, and attorneys. Every treatment plan and report adheres to DWC-25 standards, maintaining consistency, clarity, and compliance from initial referral through closure.

Professional Distinction & Recognition

  • Board Certified in General Psychiatry (ABPN)

  • Board Certified in Addiction Medicine (ABPM)

  • Certified Expert Medical Advisor, Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation

  • Top Addiction Psychiatrist, multiple-year recipient

  • Over 500 national presentations for leading pharmaceutical and medical organizations

  • America’s Top Psychiatrists, Consumers’ Research Council of America (2000–present)

Practice Philosophy

Dr. Vijapura believes that excellent psychiatric care must be both personalized and objective. He tailors every plan to the individual while maintaining measurable standards for progress and recovery.
His approach integrates medical expertise, empathy, and transparent communication—balancing compassion for the patient with accountability to all stakeholders involved in care.
Beloved by patients for his calm and reassuring demeanor, Dr. Vijapura leads with both clinical authority and human understanding, ensuring care that is accurate, timely, and truly restorative.