Sally Annasiry: ‘My job is to make sure this is their home’

Sally Annasiry specializes in creative solutions. 

“Oh, she’s going to come in with another new idea,”  is what clients and residents like to say when Sally Annasiry enters the room—and she happily agrees. 

As one of ServiceNet’s Developmental and Brain Injury Services (DBIS) Directors of Operations, Annasiry oversees several programs, including ServiceNet’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) program, Statewide Head Injury Waiver Program (SHIP) and the Enrichment Center. ServiceNet’s DBIS programs serves people living with brain injuries and include the Strive Clinic, Adult Family Care (AFC), Shared Living. Each program helps enrich the lives of program participants—helping them rehabilitate and adapt. 

Her time is split between managing, overseeing, and visiting her programs, ensuring everything is running smoothly. But despite her many responsibilities, Annasiry deeply believes in the importance of meeting with program participants and residents, ensuring they’re taken care of and fulfilled. 

Annasiry immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq in 2014. She set her sights on working at ServiceNet early on, wanting to start even as a high school senior. After graduating in 2017, she started her very first job as a direct care worker. 

“I always want to help people,” she said. “It’s either I’m a doctor or I’m delivering babies or helping you—it’s the same thing for me.” 

As she began her job at ServiceNet, Annasiry also started studying medicine, with the goal of becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN). She worked at a residential home overnight and on weekends while going to school during the day. 

“It was a hard time, but I never regret it—it was fun,” Annasiry said. 

Working at ServiceNet and studying to become an OBGYN at the same time was difficult, Annasiry said, but another life-long passion has helped: riding horses. 

“For me, the horses are like my therapy,” she said. She has three different horses, Lexi, Nina, and Amber, and rides each for different events, though her primary event is jumping. The focus required, she said, helps her process whatever else might be on her mind.

Even if it’s challenging at times, Annasiry’s work helps residents and program participants feel taken care. 

“I love working day to day with the residents—making sure their voices are heard, making sure they’re still doing their activities,” she said, “My job is to make sure this is their home, and that they feel this is a home.”