Alumni Feature: Dr. Abraham Hollist

The Power of Prevention: Dr. Abraham Hollist’s Calling to Transform Lives

Every pharmacist has a story, and within each story is a journey of learning, discovery, resilience, and excellence waiting to unfold. Sometimes, the smallest moments can shape the course of an entire career. For Abraham Hollist, that defining moment came at just four years old, a moment that would spark a lifelong passion for understanding medicine and helping others. 

Dr. Hollist was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, where many of his earliest memories were formed. Growing up, his family raised poultry, and among them, chickens were his favorite. One morning before school, he discovered that one of his chickens had been bitten by a snake. Frightened and desperate to save the animal, he turned to his father for help. Together, they created a homemade remedy using paracetamol, and they fed it to the chicken before Abraham left for school. 

Throughout the school day, young Abraham could think of nothing else. The moment classes ended, he rushed home eager to see whether the chicken had survived. To his amazement, the chicken appeared alive and healthy. He felt a deep sense of accomplishment and wonder. Medicine, he realized, had the power to heal, not only humans, but animals as well. 

But later, he noticed something unusual about the chicken. Eventually, his father revealed the truth, the original chicken had died earlier that morning and had been replaced. Although he was heartbroken, the experience ignited a new curiosity within him. What caused the chicken’s death? Was the snake venom too powerful? Did the remedy fail? Could the medicine itself have caused more harm than a cure? 

Those unanswered questions became the foundation of his fascination with medicine and its effects on the body. It was the beginning of a journey towards pharmacy. 

At the age of 14, Dr. Hollist and his family relocated from Nigeria to Lansing, Michigan. Determined to pursue a career in healthcare, he completed high school with aspirations of becoming a doctor, the desired path of several of his siblings. After graduation, he enrolled in college, but during that time, his life took an unexpected turn. He experienced the devastating loss of his father to stomach cancer, a tragedy that deeply impacted him both emotionally and academically. 

During this difficult period, Dr. Hollist persevered. With support from a college counselor, he discovered Howard University and was introduced to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Feeling called for a new environment and purpose, he transferred to Howard University in 2007 to pursue undergraduate studies in Chemistry and Biology. 

His first year at Howard was both transformative and challenging. For the first time, he found himself surrounded by people from diverse backgrounds who shared similar ambitions and experiences. Howard quickly became a place where he felt he truly belonged. 

Still, the transition was not easy. After driving from Michigan to Washington, D.C., he arrived without housing secured and spent nights sleeping in his car while searching for a place to stay. Refusing to give up, he worked tirelessly to find stability. Eventually, he secured housing and began working at a local Walgreens, often working seven days a week to help pay tuition expenses. 

Throughout those difficult moments, he reminded himself of one important lesson: 
“There’s no choice. You only get what you put into it, so make it happen.” 

Along the way, he formed lifelong friendships with classmates who helped carry one another through the highs and lows of student life. It was also during his undergraduate years that he met Kristen, his future wife, who shared his dream of becoming a pharmacist. Together, they motivated one another to keep pushing forward despite financial hardships and academic pressures. 

There were moments when tuition deadlines became overwhelming, even forcing him to delay graduation and postpone applying to pharmacy school. But instead of viewing the setback as failure, Dr. Hollist used the extra time to continue learning and preparing himself for the future. He frequently studied alongside Kristen, who had already begun her first year at the Howard University College of Pharmacy. 

When the time finally came to apply to pharmacy school, Dr. Hollist made a bold decision; he applied to only one institution, Howard University College of Pharmacy. 

He was determined to prove that Howard University was where he belonged. He regularly visited the Center of Excellence to seek interview advice, build relationships with faculty and staff, and ensure they knew exactly who he was. After completing his interview, he continued stopping by almost daily asking whether admissions decisions had been released. Eventually, on one memorable day, he was personally handed his acceptance letter, a notice that is typically mailed to you. Out of his undergraduate class, only he and one other student were admitted. 

For Dr. Hollist, it confirmed what he already believed; Howard University was meant to be part of his story. 

Attending pharmacy school presented new sets of challenges. The pace was demanding, the coursework intense, and time management difficult to master. Yet through discipline and persistence, he gradually adapted after the first semester. 

During this period, he also faced tremendous loss. In his second year, he lost a classmate to sickle cell disease—a condition he had witnessed frequently growing up in Nigeria. Six months later, his roommate also passed away from sickle cell disease. These painful experiences deeply affected him and strengthened his desire to better understand chronic illness, prevention, and patient care. 

Balancing work and academics became increasingly difficult, but eventually he was able to reduce his work hours through student loans, allowing him to focus more intentionally on both his studies and mental health. Yet, he sought every opportunity to gain hands-on experience and explore the many paths available within pharmacy careers. 

In his fourth year, he intentionally selected rotations focused on nutrition and supplements, completing experiences at Kaiser Permanente and Children’s Hospital. These opportunities broadened his understanding of preventative care and holistic health approaches. 

Dr. Hollist graduated in 2013 and immediately transitioned from pharmacy intern to full-time pharmacist after receiving his NAPLEX results. He later moved into overnight hospital pharmacy work, where he continued to study relentlessly, constantly seeking to expand his clinical knowledge and understanding of healthcare disparities. 

As his professional career flourished, his personal life also entered a joyful new chapter. In 2013, he and his wife welcomed their first son, Isaiah. Soon after, however, they learned that Isaiah had been diagnosed with sickle cell disease. The diagnosis devastated Dr. Hollist. The painful memories of losing friends, classmates, and loved ones to the disease resurfaced immediately. But instead of surrendering to fear, he became determined to do everything possible to protect his son’s future. 

“Having seen friends and even roommates lose their lives to sickle cell disease at a young age, I understood the seriousness of that diagnosis,” he shared. “So, from the very beginning, I took a different approach. I focused heavily on prevention which included nutrition, natural supplementation, and building his body’s strength from within.” 

He immersed himself in research, focusing on healthy lifestyles, nutrition, preventative care, and environmental factors that could improve Isaiah’s quality of life. 

Then came another life-changing moment. When their second son, Caleb, was born, doctors discovered he was a perfect bone marrow match for Isaiah. Although some medical professionals advised against moving forward with a transplant because Isaiah appeared healthy, Dr. Hollist believed this treatment was important. “Why wait for a crisis if there was an opportunity to potentially eliminate the risk altogether?” 

After years of research, consultations, and prayerful consideration, their family moved forward with the transplant procedure. Two years ago, Isaiah successfully underwent treatment and is now cured of sickle cell disease. 
 

 

That experience transformed Dr. Hollist’s mission and inspired both him and his wife to expand their impact on healthcare. Together, they founded Optimal Health, a full-service medical center built around preventative, comprehensive, and community-centered care.  

Today, Optimal Health has expanded into a comprehensive healthcare model, integrating primary care, pharmacy services, psychiatric care, and social support programs to address the full spectrum of patient needs. Recognizing the growing needs within their community, they also began offering food services and scholarship opportunities while continuing to expand healthcare accessibility. 
 

 

With two locations and a research center already established, they hope to launch mobile healthcare services by Summer 2026, creating a healthcare model that supports patients from beginning to end. 

Their mission is simple: 

Engage, Educate, Empower.

Dr. Hollist’s impact extends far beyond South Florida. He has also taken his advocacy work back to Nigeria, where he has hosted health awareness outreach initiatives and advocated for stronger legislation surrounding alternative medicine practices. He believes improving policies and access to alternative and preventative healthcare can significantly reduce healthcare disparities and improve patient outcomes across underserved communities. 

 

Reflecting on his journey, he credits Howard University College of Pharmacy for helping shape the person and professional he has become. He is also an active member of the Board of Visitors at the College of Pharmacy.  

From a curious child trying to save a chicken in Nigeria to a pharmacist, entrepreneur, healthcare advocate, and community leader, Dr. Abraham Hollist has transformed personal experiences into purpose-driven action for years to come.  

How would you encourage students to go through Pharmacy School?  

God pushes us in a direction for a reason; there’s a reason everything happens, so look for a bigger picture. Take advantage of every opportunity and give it 110%.

And for students following in his footsteps, his advice remains clear.

Keep working for that grade even after school is over. Continue learning and improving.

Last piece of advice to others.

Don’t accept no. Be determined, and it will work out. Never let others forget your face.