Boleslav Kotlyar, MD was born in Kiev, Ukraine and emigrated to the US in 1993. He attended Stuyvesant High School, followed by New York University (2003-2006) for undergraduate studies, completing his degree in three years cum laude with a major in Biology and a minor in History. Dr. Kotlyar gained and interest in retina after working for a retina practice in Brooklyn as head ophthalmic technician and photographer for three years. This experience inspired him to study medicine at SUNY Buffalo from 2009–2013.