Abby Sakariyah PMHNP CRNP FNP-BC
I am the founder and owner of Cherished Hands, an organization that has grown into three distinct healthcare businesses dedicated to serving our community through home health and behavioral health services. Guided by our tagline, “we are structured by experience, and we are driven by compassion,” my mission has always been to go beyond providing services and truly make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. With a background as a Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I bring both clinical expertise and a deep understanding of patient-centered care to everything I build, ensuring that our services support individuals and families with dignity, quality, and compassion.
My journey began 10 years ago in my basement, where I worked tirelessly to bring my vision to life. I still remember one of my earliest challenges—when a potential hire hesitated to join because we were operating out of my home. That moment stayed with me, not as a setback, but as motivation to grow and build something credible and lasting. From opening our first office to reaching milestones of 50 employees and now over 100 team members, each step has been a reflection of perseverance, faith, and commitment. Watching the company evolve from a small startup into a trusted, multi-entity organization has been one of my proudest accomplishments.
As the organization continues to grow rapidly, I have evolved as a leader, focusing on building strong systems and infrastructure to support sustainable success. I have personally developed comprehensive operational frameworks, including training platforms, video-based processes, and structured playbooks for every administrative role. One of my proudest moments was onboarding our first HR manager and being able to provide them with a fully developed system that reflects our standards and values. Today, I remain deeply grateful for how far we have come and am committed to continuing to expand our impact—ensuring that Cherished Hands remains a foundation of compassionate, structured, and high-quality care for the communities we serve.
• PMHNP
• CRNP
• FNP-BC
• Registered Nurse
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Chamberlain University -
Master's degree, Family Practice Nurse/Nursing
• Morgan State University
Bachelor of Science - BS, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
• Walden University
Master of Science - MS
• Global Changing Award from Home Care Evolution (2024)
• Mentoring women in the Nigerian community who are starting healthcare agencies
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of passion for delivering quality care, a strong work ethic, and the support of my community and mentors along the way. From the beginning, I have been deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in people’s lives, which has driven me to continuously grow and improve. I am also incredibly grateful for the unwavering support and operational involvement of my husband, whose belief in me and partnership has played a pivotal role in building and sustaining this journey.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my husband, who encouraged me to stop waiting for others to do things the right way and to take the leap to build something of my own. His belief in my vision, along with his willingness to take risks alongside me, gave me the confidence to start my business. That advice changed my mindset and ultimately set me on the path to creating and growing Cherished Hands.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Abby encourages young women to take initiative and not be afraid to step out on their own when they see opportunities for improvement. She emphasizes the importance of believing in yourself, staying committed through challenges, and building something meaningful even when starting from the ground up.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is ensuring consistency in service delivery across a diverse team while also recruiting and retaining quality staff in a highly competitive environment. Because our work is people-driven, maintaining high standards across every interaction requires strong systems and continuous training. At the same time, there are tremendous opportunities to strengthen operations through better systems, training, and performance metrics. I also see growth potential in scaling the business, exploring franchising opportunities, and developing strong mid-level leadership to support long-term expansion.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most are compassion, integrity, and a commitment to quality care. I believe in treating every individual with dignity while ensuring that the services we provide truly make a difference. Family and mentorship are also very important to me, as they have shaped both my personal and professional journey. Additionally, I value building structured, replicable systems that allow for consistency, growth, and sustainability in everything I do.