Meet Dr. Tunison
Dr. Tunison is so thankful that she has kept her roots in Central New York, by joining the the experienced team at Valley Dental Pediatrics, back in 2010.
Dr. Tunison knew that she wanted to become a dentist when she explored different healthcare careers at the New Visions program through Arnot Health and Elmira Free Academy in 1999. Dr. Tunison then placed in the Early Decision Program at the University at Buffalo for early entrance to be accepted into the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Tunison graduated from the University at Buffalo with a degree in Anthropology, with an extra focus on health sciences.
Dr. Tunison spent her summer doing an archeology dig at Fort Niagara in Niagara Falls, NY. She knew that she wanted to make a career out of helping children from a very young age. She had started as a "PAL" volunteer mentor when in high school at Elmira Free Academy, where she also spent summers working as a camp counselor and a lifeguard. Throughout college she engaged in another volunteer mentor program in Buffalo, the "Big Brother and Big Sister" program.
Dr. Tunison also loved working as a barista in an Italian coffee shop, and working at a bakery learning new recipes and serving homemade baked goods and homemade ice cream. When she talks to your family about cavity prevention, she understands that sweets and goodies can be all around us!
Dr. Tunison loved dental school, and enjoyed every opportunity to spend volunteer hours during the school year and summer working as an volunteer at the Children's Hospital of Buffalo helping provide pediatric dental care. Dr. Tunison was so grateful to then continue her training as a pediatric dental resident at the same hospital upon completion of her doctor of dental surgery degree from the University at Buffalo.
Dr. Tunison received her certificate of speciality training in pediatric dentistry in 2010 from the University at Buffalo and Children's Hospital Program (now John R. Oishei Children's Hospital of Buffalo), and she has been serving our local community ever since.
Each year we participate in Children's Dental Health Month volunteer services, and Dr. Tunison acted as the chair for Children's Dental Health Month for the Sixth District Dental Society from 2015-2020.Dr. Tunison became a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 2011, and has been passionate about continuing her education with weekend and evening classes focusing on pediatric care each year.
Dr. Tunison loves having the opportunity to provide for our community by focusing on preventive care by teaching the importance of diet, homecare, and routine dental visits.
Dr. Tunison welcomes every morning as a gift to show new patient families that their children can feel safe, have fun, and have a confident and HAPPY visit, even when undergoing necessary treatment needs.
In her free time Dr. Tunison loves hiking at local parks with her family and creating new recipes for families that are economical, easy, delicious, and part of your no cavity plan!
She also loves practicing yoga and building legos with her son Crosby. She loves supporting the arts in our community, especially music and dance. You will hear her singing your favorite Disney songs when you are around the office. You also may see her in a future production of the Rafael Grigorian Ballet Company.
