Our Providers
Meet Our Providers
GI North is comprised of a team of diverse providers dedicated to compassionate, individualized care for every patient, every time.
DR. SIMON COFRANCESCO
Dr. Tyler An
Dr. Chunsu Jiang
Jessica Calabro MSN, BSN, AGACNP-BC, RN, RNFA
VALERIE AVALLONE, MSN, FNP-C
Aashna Jain
Dr. Simon Cofrancesco
Board-Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Cofrancesco founded GI North in Cumming, GA in the fall of 2011 starting out with 2 employees including his wife, Roxanna, in hopes of starting a successful private practice of his own. Since that time, he has added 5 additional providers, a state-of-the art endoscopy center, in house anesthesia, and a satellite clinic in Alpharetta. All combined, there are now over 50 employees that work at GI North.
Dr. Cofrancesco graduated with honors from Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, followed by his residency at Tufts University affiliate Bay State Medical Center in Springfield, MA. He went on to complete his Gastroenterology fellowship at the Long Island College Hospital in NYC.
After completing his training, Dr. Cofrancesco went to an underserved area in Mississippi to repay his medical school loans, but stayed on for over 15 years after he met his wife, Roxanna Redden, and they started their family of 5 children. Dr. Cofrancesco also served as Chief of Staff at the local hospital in 2014.
Dr. Cofrancesco performs both basic and advanced endoscopic procedures in addition to the medical management of all forms of GI diseases. He remains board certified by the ABIM, and has almost 30 years of experience in Gastroenterology.
His passions in life are his family, adventure in the form of travel, hiking, and diving, and of course, excellence in the care and service he and everyone at GI North provide to all of their patients.
Dr. Tyler An
Board-Certified Gastroenterologist
Tyler I. An, DO, was born in Seoul, South Korea, before moving to the U.S. at the age of 12. He lived in Orlando, Florida, until moving to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend college at Emory University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology, Dr. An worked at Yerkes Research Center for two years before attending the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia campus) in Suwanee, Georgia. He completed his internal medicine residency at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan, where he received multiple awards, including Outstanding Junior Resident of the Year, Outstanding Senior Resident of the Year, and the Bernard H. Smookler Endowment Award. Dr. An then completed his gastroenterology fellowship at MSU-affiliated hospitals in Lansing, serving as a chief fellow during the last year of his fellowship.
Dr. An is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Osteopathic Association, and American College of Osteopathic Internists. Dr. An has written and presented a number of academic papers, posters, and oral presentations at various local and national meetings. He was also a clinical instructor and a clinical assistant professor at MSU.
After the completion of his residency and fellowship training, Dr. An moved back to Georgia with his wife, Lydia, and two children, Tobias and Eliana. He is fluent in both English and Korean. Dr. An enjoys spending time with his family and friends and watching and playing sports such as basketball, football, soccer, and golf.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in biology, Emory University; Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Chunsu Jiang
Board-Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Chunsu Jiang was born in Nantong, China. At age 11, he moved to the United States to Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Emory University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After completion of his undergraduate studies, he attended Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA. He then completed his internal medicine residency at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Jiang then completed his fellowship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl. He was also the T32 research fellow during his time in Miami, where he conducted clinical research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He was also a clinical instructor at University of Miami.
Dr. Jiang is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He has a special interest in Inflammatory bowel disease.
In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, hiking, playing board games and reading about world history. He is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese.
Degree: BA, Emory University; MD, Medical College Georgia.
Jessica Calabro, MSN, BSN, AGACNP-BC, RN, RNFA
Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner
Jessica Calabro was born and raised near Birmingham, Alabama, where she earned her nursing degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2007. Shortly after graduation, Jessica moved to Dawsonville, Georgia, and worked as a registered nurse for over 13 years in various specialties, including medical cardiology, endoscopy, and general surgery. In 2020, Jessica graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a master’s degree in advanced practice nursing with a registered nurse first assist subspecialty. She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. Jessica is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and hiking in the North Georgia mountains.
Specialty: Certified Nurse Practitioner
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham; master’s degree in advanced practice nursing with a registered nurse first assist subspecialty, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Valerie Avallone, MSN, FNP-C
Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner
Valerie Avallone was born and raised near Boston, MA. Following earning her first Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Health Sciences she moved to the suburbs of Nashville, TN to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing at Union University in 2016. Following nursing school, she started her nursing career at Duke University Hospital in an adult ICU. After gaining experience she moved back to Boston, MA continuing to work as a registered nurse in an adult ICU. In 2021 she earned her Master’s in Nursing from Endicott College. She relocated to the suburbs of Atlanta with her significant other to be closer to his family. She joined the GI North family in January of 2022. In her free time she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, reading, and cooking.
Degrees: Bachelors of Arts in Human Development and Health Sciences, Merrimack College; Bachelors of Science in Nursing, Union University; Masters of Science in Nursing, Endicott College
Aashna Jain
Physician Assistant
Aashna Jain was raised in Fayetteville, NC and in Bangalore, India from 2007-2011. In 2020, Aashna graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Exercise & Sports Science and South Asian Studies. During her time at Carolina, Aashna volunteered at UNC Children’s Hospital and worked as a Pediatric Medical Assistant. Following her undergraduate studies, she moved to Worcester, Massachusetts and received her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) from MCPHS University in 2022. Upon completing her Master’s degree, she relocated to Georgia to be closer to family.
She is fluent in English, French and Hindi. In her spare time, Aashna enjoys playing racquetball, traveling and exploring her new home in the Buford area.
Degrees: B.A Exercise & Sports Science, B.A South Asian Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill; Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies, MCPHS University-Worcester.
