Meet Our Staff

Dr. Collura, a highly skilled and dedicated clinical endodontist, founded the office of Big Apple Endodontics (formerly Michael J Collura DMD PC) in 2003. He earned his DMD degree from the prestigious School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania in 1993. After completing a one-year General Practice Residency at North Shore University Hospital of Long Island, Dr. Collura pursued specialty training in endodontics back at his alma mater, University of Pennsylvania, in 1996.

Armed with advanced education and expertise in endodontics, Dr. Collura confidently ventured into private practice in the NYC and Long Island areas, where he continued to provide exceptional endodontic care and an unwavering commitment to the oral health of the communities for more than 27 years.

Dr. Chen joined Big Apple Endodontics (formerly Michael J Collura DMD PC) as a partner of the practice in 2007. She was born and raised in Taiwan, where she also had her dental school education and her two-year general dentistry residency training. Dr. Chen then pursued endodontic specialty training at the College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University in 2000. After completing the postgraduate endodontic program, Dr. Chen joined the full-time endodontic faculty at Columbia from 2002-2007. She also earned her American DDS degree at Columbia University.

After that, Dr. Chen traded her academic career for a clinical endodontist practice serving in the NYC and Long Island areas. Even then, she continued to teach part-time at Columbia as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dentistry from 2007 to the present. Driven by an unwavering commitment to excellence, Dr. Chen became a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics since 2010. For any professional communication or inquiries with Dr. Chen, please reach out at drchen@bigappleendo.com.

Meet Alison, the person willing to go above and beyond to make sure you leave the office satisfied with the treatments. She is available for our patients after hours to answer any questions they may still have to help in any way. Alison loves her team and her patients.

Alison is constantly learning new things and, no matter how much she thinks she knows, she always values room for growth. Being open and adaptable in an ever-changing field is something that excites Alison, knowing that each day is an opportunity.

Lydia loves that her career gives her the chance to make a significant difference in the lives of her patients. She has been with Big Apple Endo for over 15 years and has been part of a cultural change to a practice driven by quality delivery. At Big Apple Endo, Lydia is key to our patient satisfaction and team professional growth.

To Lydia, being part of a team means being there for one another, building each other up and lending a helping hand whenever it is needed.

Salma Valdez is our dental assistant and has been with us for the past two years. Known for her unwavering dedication and hard work, Salma is deeply committed to providing exceptional care to our patients. Her attentive and caring nature ensures that every patient feels comfortable and supported throughout their dental visit.

With Salma's expertise and genuine passion for dentistry, she plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality service and making a positive impact on our practice.