Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Akinyemi Akinwumiju. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Akinyemi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
I can honestly say I’m happy as a business owner. Leading Progressive Psychiatric Services has given me a sense of purpose that goes far beyond running a clinic—it’s about creating something that truly serves people. As a physician and mental-health professional, I’ve always believed in the power of compassionate, consistent care, and owning my practice allows me to put that belief into action every day. I get to make decisions that directly impact patient outcomes, empower my team, and expand access to mental-health services for veterans and vulnerable populations across Nevada.
But I’d be lying if I said I never think about what it might feel like to have a regular job. One evening not too long ago, I was still in the office around 10 p.m., surrounded by compliance files, insurance forms, and scheduling notes. It had been one of those long weeks—billing delays, staffing challenges, and an unexpected inspection notice all landing at once. As I glanced at the clock, I thought, “Most people are probably home by now, enjoying dinner with their families.”
For a brief moment, I imagined what it would be like to clock out at five, to let someone else handle the tough calls, to not carry every decision on my shoulders. But as I looked around my office the framed thank-you notes from veterans, the photos from community outreach events, the team roster on the wall—I felt a wave of clarity. This is exactly where I’m meant to be.
Owning this practice isn’t easy, but it’s profoundly rewarding. Every challenge comes with meaning: helping a patient find stability, guiding a clinician toward professional growth, or ensuring our doors stay open for those who need us most. That night reminded me that entrepreneurship in healthcare isn’t about comfort it’s about commitment.
I’ve learned that true fulfillment doesn’t come from avoiding responsibility; it comes from embracing it. For me, happiness is knowing that the work I do—no matter how demanding—changes live every single day.
Akinyemi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Dr. Akinyemi Akinwumiju, behavioral-health entrepreneur, and CEO of Progressive Psychiatric Services, a Las Vegas–based mental-health organization dedicated to accessible, integrated care for veterans, seniors, and individuals battling substance-use disorders. With a background in health psychology and guidance and counseling, Dr. Akinwumiju focuses on expanding innovative, ethical, and community-oriented mental-health systems that improve lives across Nevada.
“We don’t just provide treatment -we build systems that make care possible.
Redefining Mental Health Care Through Innovation, Integrity, and Community Impact”
My background is in health psychology, where I earned a specialized honors degree focused on human behavior and wellness. Before that, I obtained a degree in guidance and counseling, which profoundly shaped how I understand people and their struggles. Those early academic and personal experiences taught me that leadership-especially in healthcare-starts with empathy, purpose, and a commitment to service.
In 2022, I founded Progressive Psychiatric Services with a vision to redefine how outpatient mental-health care is delivered. From day one, my goal wasn’t just to run a clinic-it was to build an integrated system that provides stability for both patients and providers. Today, I serve as CEO, overseeing operations, compliance, and growth strategy while supporting a talented team of clinicians who provide direct patient care.
Our motto, “Where life improvement happens every day,” truly reflects our mission. We offer a full spectrum of mental-health services-from therapy and medication management to substance-use treatment-all under one roof. Recently, our facility was recognized by the state for its innovative substance-use and recovery programs, which help clients rebuild stability and reintegrate into society through structured support and transitional housing.
One of the achievements I’m most proud of is establishing the first physician-owned, full in-house laboratory within a psychiatric practice in Nevada. This high-complexity lab enables our providers to make data-driven decisions in medication management and detect potential misuse or non-compliance. In a time when prescription safety and accountability are so critical, this technology ensures our clinicians can provide more precise and responsible care.
We also go beyond the walls of our clinic. Recognizing that access is a major barrier for many, we provide transportation for senior citizens dealing with addiction or mobility challenges, ensuring they receive consistent, uninterrupted care.
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Navigating zoning laws and obtaining conditional-use permits for transitional housing has been complex, especially given the reputation issues caused by less compliant operators in the industry. However, we continue to work closely with local and state agencies to set a new standard-one grounded in transparency, safety, and patient dignity.
What truly sets Progressive Psychiatric Services apart is our commitment to integration, innovation, and integrity. We don’t just treat patients; we design systems that empower clinicians, protect the community, and promote recovery. As CEO, my focus is on growth-expanding access, improving infrastructure, and continuing to build a culture where compassion and accountability coexist.
What I’m most proud of is seeing lives change-not only through treatment but through the environment we’ve created. Every step forward, every patient stabilized, every provider empowered-these remind me that the impact of leadership in healthcare goes far beyond medicine. It’s about building hope, structure, and lasting change.
Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?
Yes, there was definitely a time when things got extremely tough-probably one of the biggest tests of our resilience as a business. It happened when Progressive Psychiatric Services made the decision to purchase its own building instead of continuing to rent. It was a bold move, one that reflected our long-term vision of growth and stability. But like many major transitions, it came with unexpected financial pressure.
Because we were a young business with limited credit history at the time, obtaining a loan was not easy. The terms were strict, and we had to make a significantly higher down payment than we initially anticipated. That decision tied up much of our working capital and, for a short while, we found ourselves struggling to keep up with payroll. On top of that, we were dealing with delays in insurance reimbursements-a challenge that every healthcare organization can relate to.
There were moments when the pressure felt overwhelming. As the CEO, I knew the responsibility rested entirely on me to make sure our team-our clinicians, our administrative staff-never felt that burden. It took careful planning, transparent communication, and many long nights reviewing every line of our financials. But we made it through.
Looking back, that period taught us the real meaning of leadership and perseverance. We learned to manage risk, build financial resilience, and maintain our focus on long-term goals even during difficult times. Today, we are proud to say we fully own our practice building-a milestone that represents not just ownership, but independence, stability, and the ability to keep serving our community on our own terms.
That challenge ultimately became one of our proudest achievements. It reminded me that growth doesn’t come without struggle-and sometimes, the hardest moments are what prepare you for the next big step forward.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
One of the most effective strategies we’ve used to grow our clientele has been prioritizing accessibility and responsiveness. From the beginning, I made it a policy that new patients must be seen within 48 hours of their initial call or referral. In mental health care, timing is everything—when someone reaches out, it often means they’re at a critical point and need immediate support. We never want a patient in crisis to sit on a waiting list for weeks; our priority is helping new patients achieve stability as quickly as possible.
This commitment to responsiveness has built a strong reputation in our community. Many of our referrals come from satisfied patients and partnering organizations who recognize that we follow through. We’re proud to serve both veterans and individuals with private insurance, and we’ve earned trust through consistent care, professionalism, and integrity.
Another key part of our growth has been maintaining a clean record of clinical and ethical excellence. Since our founding, Progressive Psychiatric Services has never been involved in any malpractice litigation-a testament to the dedication, training, and ethical standards of our team. We take great pride in that, because trust is everything in this field.
Ultimately, our patients tend to stay with us long term. Once they experience the compassion, professionalism, and coordinated care provided by our clinicians, they choose to continue their treatment with us. That loyalty has been the cornerstone of our success.
For us, growth has never been about aggressive marketing-it’s been about reliability, accessibility, and quality of care. When you build a system that truly works for patients, word of mouth becomes your most powerful referral source.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.progressivepsychlv.com
