Q: If you couldn’t be a dentist, what would your second career be? A photographer! I love photographing weddings, special occasions and newborns.

Q: What volunteering or passion projects do you do outside of work? I’ve enjoyed working with Rebuild Upstate. It is a great hands-on way to get involved directly in our community.

• Clemson University
• University of California: San Francisco

Dr. Valerie Saragusa was born in Bolivia, South America and spent her early childhood in Atlanta, GA. Her family relocated to the Upstate where she attended Mauldin Middle School and graduated from Mauldin High School in 2010.

Dr. Val attended Clemson University where her main focuses were applying to dental school and Clemson football. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Life Sciences in 2013. Clemson will always hold a special place in her heart, as this is where she met her husband, Ben. They married in 2017 in Savannah, GA. 

Upon graduation from Clemson, Dr. Val moved to California where she attended dental school at the University of California- San Francisco. Throughout dental school, she was able to explore her passion for public health. Dr. Val was a board member for the school’s Community Dental Clinic, which provided dental care for people experiencing homelessness. During her time at UCSF, she attended two dental mission trips with the Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity to Honduras and Vietnam.

Upon her graduation from UCSF in 2018, Dr. Val began her Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program in Atlanta, GA. After completing her residency program she was excited to return to the Upstate and join Family Dental Health! Her experiences throughout dental school and residency solidified her passion for dentistry and her patients. She loves meeting new people, working towards solutions to better one’s health, and creating beautiful smiles along the way!

The Saragusas have enjoyed being back in the Upstate with their tabby cat, Obi, and their Boykin Spaniel, Huckleberry. During her free time, you can find Dr. Val reading a book, searching for fun new recipes to cook, practicing her photography, or planning her and Ben’s next travel adventure.

Dr. Val looks forward to working with you and your family!