Sherief Abu-Moustafa is a leading voice for quality substance abuse and mental health care in the South Florida community, as well on the national stage. So many people need that encouraging voice to inspire them to go to drug and alcohol rehab, or continue in their recovery after treatment. Sherief’s passion for helping more Americans access effective treatment inspired him to found FHE Health — a behavioral health provider that provides hope through recovery from addiction or psychological distress at its facilities across America today since 2001.
Sherief Abu-Moustafa has been providing hope to men and women from all over the country for generations. His long record of success in addiction treatment, coupled with his recent achievements as fundamental FHE Health have made him one of our most well-respected health professionals today!
HBM: What made you decide to start FHE Health?
Sherief Abu-Moustafa: “Since I was young I have always had a deep-seated desire to help people. I have seen firsthand what mental illness can do to someone, and I decided to devote my life to bringing hope to every person I can. That is why FHE is so important to me and why I work hard every day to improve and grow FHE. I am able to fulfill the role I’ve dreamed of and been able to really help people.
During my time at Harvard Teaching College, I served as a Supervisor. I decided to use my experience not only at Harvard, but as an entrepreneur, to start FHE and finally make a difference for those suffering from Behavioral and Mental health issues.”
HBM: Did you always know you wanted to start your own healthcare business?
Sherief Abu-Moustafa: “I knew I wanted to make a difference, but I never knew I would get to be a part of something this huge, this monumental. FHE is all I could have imagined and more and I am thankful every day for the opportunity. Actually, I’m thankful for the long nights and hard days that got me here. They shaped me into the man I am today, and FHE into the thriving healthcare institution that brings hope to people across the South Florida Community.”
HBM: Where do you envision FHE Health in the next 10 years?
Sherief Abu-Moustafa: “As a teaching institution, I want FHE to continue to not only make an impact on those suffering with behavioral and mental problems, but I want continue to impact our students, our medical professionals of tomorrow. The future may not be certain, but the passion and the drive to continue my work is.”
HBM: Does Philanthropy really work, especially for healthcare?
Sherief Abu-Moustafa: “As a philanthropist, you desire the good well-being of others. So in my opinion, philanthropy is the basis of healthcare. Without philanthropy, healthcare would simply cease to be. At their core, every health care provider must be a philanthropist to some degree and variation or it just wouldn’t work.”
HBM: How do you maintain a work/life balance?
Sherief Abu-Moustafa: “I carve out my schedule and I stick to it. I know that if I stray from my written schedule, then either my work or my home life is going to hurt, and I want to be able to enjoy life to the fullest just like any other person. It is important to devote as much to your personal life as it is to work. The one cannot exist without the other,at least not successfully.”
HBM: What advice would you give young entrepreneurs?
Sherief Abu-Moustafa: “Make sure you are passionate about your business. When you’re starting out and your business isn’t as you had imagined it yet, passion is what will keep you going. There are tough days that you will experience. Those days will test your mentality and wear you down to the point of exhaustion. It’s in those days that passion will keep you afloat. Even FHE would not be here today if I wasn’t passionate about healthcare and helping others.”
