Executive Staff
The PrimaryOne Health Executive Team is comprised of department leaders who are responsible for carrying out our mission of providing high quality services and maintaining our vision of universal equality.
The PrimaryOne Health Executive Team is comprised of department leaders who are responsible for carrying out our mission of providing high quality services and maintaining our vision of universal equality.
Chief Executive Officer
As of February 2025, Fikru Nigusse has taken the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Primary One Health. With a wealth of over 20 years of experience, Fikru is a Certified Public Accountant who has led financial management efforts for several non-profit and social service organizations in Central Ohio. His impressive resume includes his tenure as Chief Financial Officer at Primary One Health, Equitas Health, and LSS.
Born and raised in Ethiopia, Fikru developed a deep commitment to community service and the non-profit sector during his upbringing in Western Ethiopia (Oromia). The church-based healthcare services provided to his community sparked his appreciation for the vital role nonprofits play in improving quality of life.
Fikru holds a Master of Business Administration from Franklin University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. His dedication to community service is further demonstrated by his previous roles as a board member for Heart of Ohio Family Health Center and Ochin Inc., and as Council President for his Lutheran Church Congregation.
In his new role as CEO, Fikru’s extensive background and passion for the non-profit sector will guide his mission to enhance healthcare services and support communities in need.
Chief Operating Officer
Nichole joined PrimaryOne Health in 2022, bringing over a decade of progressive operational leadership experience. Prior to this, she spent ten years at Mount Carmel Medical Group, a member of Trinity Health, where she held various leadership roles. During her tenure, Nichole developed a patient experience training program, spearheaded innovative digital health initiatives to enhance access to care, and directed the project management team, with responsibility for acquisitions, new builds, operations management, and internal communications. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, she served on several committees, including the Integrity & Compliance, Patient Experience, and Policy & Procedure Committees. In 2020, Nichole was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Mount Carmel Medical Group Service Excellence Award.
In addition to her medical group operations expertise, Nichole spent four years in leadership roles with Heartland Dental, a nationally recognized Dental Support Organization. She also recently earned the designation of Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP), underscoring her commitment to enhancing patient care.
An Illinois native, Nichole has been an active member of her community, serving as an alderwoman on the City Council and holding roles on the City Finance and Police Committees. She also served as Treasurer of the Rotary Club and a Board Member for Project Success. Currently, Nichole is a member of the Columbus Community Information Exchange (CIE) Product Development Council.
As Chief Operating Officer at PrimaryOne Health, Nichole oversees day-to-day operations, including facilities, IT, project management, and patient experience. She works closely with the CEO to implement strategic initiatives and drive the organization’s mission forward.
Chief Clinical Officer
Dr. Danilo Polonia is a Columbus native who graduated from Whitehall-Yearling High School.
Prior to joining PrimaryOne Health, he enjoyed over 20 years in clinical practice as a community family physician and as an Associate Director of Grant Family Medicine residency.
He also has over 10 years of experience in administrative medicine, serving as the Medical Director of Quality & Patient Safety at Grant Medical Center. In addition, he was the Medical Director of OhioHealth Primary Care and Associate Medical Director of OhioHealth Population Health.
He completed both his undergraduate and medical degrees at The Ohio State University. He completed his Family Medicine residency at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he served as a co-chief resident during his 3rd year of residency. He is a Board-certified Family Physician and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
He is passionate about truly connecting with patients and developing trust. He is dedicated to supporting high quality care in a compassionate and holistic manner, meeting patients where they are. He is a strong believer in providing integrated multidisciplinary care that supports patients to help them achieve a healthier life with good outcomes.
As Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Polonia will oversee clinical operations, coordination of care, and development of practitioner engagement initiatives, along with quality and effectiveness strategies. He will also engage all service lines, while serving as the primary clinical voice for strategy and program development decisions.
Chief Community Officer
Her career includes serving as Vice President of Health Services at MediGold and as Senior Director and Administrative Officer for the Office of Health Equity at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where she guided the implementation of the Health Equity Roadmap. A recognized community leader, Liza is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors at PrimaryOne Health and a board member for ELLA—Empowering Latina Leadership Academy and Prevent Blindness Ohio.
Liza was recently honored as a 2026 WELD – Women WELDing the Way Calendar Awardee for her leadership, service, and commitment to equity.