Mission
Our mission is to work together to provide access to the best GI services in our community.
Creating Special Places
Vision
Our vision is to create places where people choose to come for GI healthcare, physicians and providers want to practice, and employees want to work.
Putting Patients First
One GI's Commitment to Excellence
At One GI®, we provide exceptional gastroenterology care that puts patients at the forefront. Since our inception in 2020, we have grown rapidly while remaining steadfast in our commitment to driving excellence and upholding the highest standards in gastroenterology practice. Our renowned physician leadership, collaborative team culture, state-of-the-art ancillary services, and robust network strength empower our physicians to deliver personalized, compassionate care tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
One GI is more than just an organization; it’s a community of over 1,300 dedicated individuals united by a shared purpose: creating a better healthcare experience for patients, colleagues, and communities. We are a diverse team of professionals who bring our unique perspectives and expertise to the table, fostering an environment of collaboration and continuous improvement. Each One GI practice is the leading provider of gastroenterology care in its respective community, retaining its regional name and unique reputation while leveraging the expansive resources and backing of our national organization.
At the core of our mission is a people-first mentality that prioritizes the well-being of our patients, creating a welcoming and supportive environment where patients feel heard, understood, and empowered to take an active role in their healthcare journey.
Executive Leadership Team
Christa joined One GI in September of 2021, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in leading and transforming multi-specialty healthcare systems.
Christa has a passion for delivering exceptional patient care and creating positive change in the healthcare industry. She has a proven track record of achieving outstanding results in challenging and dynamic environments.
Before taking on the role of CEO at One GI, Christa served as the COO for One GI. Prior to One GI, she was the Division President at Integrated Oncology Network, one of the largest oncology multispecialty medical groups in the country. There, she was responsible for overseeing the operational and financial aspects of the organizations, as well as leading their growth and expansion initiatives. She led ION to achieve notable enhancements in patient satisfaction, quality outcomes, operational efficiency, and financial performance. She has served in various executive roles at different multi-specialty practice healthcare systems throughout her career. Christa holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Southern University.
As the CEO, Christa oversees all aspects of One GI’s operations and strategy, with a focus on enhancing patient care, driving growth, improving efficiency, and fostering a culture of excellence. One of Christa’s primary objectives is to positively influence the continuum of care in all One GI practices. She can identify areas to improve, create new strategies, and meet business goals – all while keeping the team optimistic and hopeful.
Christa’s core value is to foster a culture at One GI where everyone feels acknowledged and respected. She firmly believes that this kind of environment is essential for providing high-quality patient care, which is the ultimate goal of One GI.
Mike Harper is an experienced Finance and M&A leader with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), he excels in relationship management, acquisition pricing, negotiation, and leading integration teams from inception through close and integration phases. Mike has a proven track record of success, including securing significant capital commitments from private equity, leading acquisitions, and developing strategic financial plans that have resulted in substantial funding for various enterprises.
Currently serving as CFO at One GI®, Mike leverages his expertise in financial leadership and operational efficiency to drive growth and success for the organization. His previous roles include Senior Vice President of M&A, interim CFO positions, and CFO roles at various healthcare companies, where he demonstrated strong financial acumen and leadership across diverse teams and initiatives. Mike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Management from Lipscomb University.
Vasu Appalaneni, MD, MBA, FASGE is a distinguished physician executive, national speaker, and purpose-driven advisor. Her expertise lies in intellectual diversity, strategy development, authentic leadership, and a profound curiosity for dissecting complex healthcare and business challenges.
Fascinated by medical advancements since childhood, she thrives on embracing change and leveraging technology in frontline healthcare, integrating patient care with innovative solutions like AI. With 23 years of clinical expertise, her understanding of patient and staff needs is profound, shaping superior patient and physician experiences. Her strategic acumen spans healthcare strategy, organizational culture, brand development, mergers and acquisitions, governance, and finance, positioning her as a visionary leader crucial for sustainable growth in healthcare organizations.
Dr. Appalaneni currently serves as a Senior Physician at Dayton Gastroenterology and as the Executive Vice President of Clinical Innovation at One GI.
Emmett Bane brings 20 years of human resources (HR) experience to his role as Senior Vice President, HR. He is a results-driven executive and his specialties include leadership development, mergers and acquisitions, people analytics, change management, employee relations, performance management, recruiting, and total rewards.
Prior to joining OneGI, Emmett served in key strategic HR leadership functions at healthcare companies including AdhereHealth, Akumin, Alliance HealthCare, and SantaFe HealthCare.
Emmett holds a B.A. in Business Administration/Economics from King University and an MBA with HR Concentration from East Tennessee State University. He also is a Certified Professional in TTI Success Factors Behavioral Analysis (DISC) and holds HR certifications from the HR Certification Institute as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and from the Society of Human Resource Management as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Sean Mercado is the Senior Vice President of Payor Strategy at One GI® where he leads all managed care and enrollment initiatives. Sean’s expertise in healthcare contracting, strategic planning, and partnership development aligns seamlessly with One GI’s dedication to continual growth while optimizing our strategic relationships.
Before joining One GI, Sean had various managed care roles with Pediatrix Medical Group (formerly known as Mednax), DaVita, and Humana. In each role, his passion and innovative reimbursement models resulted in novel value-based programs and strengthened collaborations.
Sean earned his Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.
Jim Persuad has over 25 years of IT leadership in the health industry and currently serves as One GI’s SVP of Information Technology. In his previous role as VP of IT at LucidHealth Inc., Jim led the IT infrastructure for 10 radiology subspecialty groups across 60+ hospitals, over 400 physicians, and 15 health systems. He is a practical leader known for resolving business and operational challenges with a track-record of implementing revenue-generating solutions, delivering operational efficiencies, and ensuring client and customer satisfaction.
Mark Williams is a seasoned finance executive with 19 years of expertise in healthcare finance, including financial accounting, M&A activities, revenue cycle management, and managed care contracting. Mark brings a deep understanding of financial principles and regulatory compliance to his role as the Senior Vice President of Finance at One GI®.
Throughout his career, Mark has excelled in leading transformative financial initiatives, including migrating financial platforms, improving revenue cycle management, and enhancing EBITDA through strategic contract negotiations and operational optimizations. His experience spans financial reconciliation, process improvements, and successful integration of acquired entities, highlighting his ability to drive financial efficiencies and deliver impactful results across diverse organizational functions.
Mark has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting from The University of Mississippi and a CPA license in Tennessee.
Medical Leadership Board
Mike Dragutsky, MD
Gastro One
Steve Amann, MD
Digestive Health Specialists
Sufiyan Chaudhry, MD
Gastro One
Kevin Batte, MD
Gastroenterology Associates of North Mississippi
Paul Brown, MD
Gastroenterology Health Partners
James “Jim” Strobel, MD
Gastroenterology Health Partners
Keith Friedenberg, MD
Great Lakes Gastroenterology
Fadi Bashour, MD
Digestive Disease Consultants
Niaz Usman, MD
Dayton Gastroenterology
Kevin Finnegan, MD
Associates in Gastroenterology
Satinder Gill, MD
Colon, Stomach, Liver Center
Paul Arnold, MD
Gastroenterology Associates
Myung Choi, MD
Gastroenterology Associates
Sanjay Sandhir, MD
Dayton Gastroenterology
Walid Makdisi, MD
Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater
Jon Saxe, MD
Dayton Gastroenterology
