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.

During medical school, Dr. Kotlyar served as president of the Surgery Interest Group as well as the Ophthalmology Interest Group. Dr. Kotlyar's preliminary internal medicine year was at Newark Beth Israel in Newark, NJ, where he was awarded the Preliminary Medicine Intern of the Year award. His Ophthalmology residency was at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY from 2014–2017. His adult and pediatric Vitreoretinal Fellowship training was at Retina Consultants Limited/Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL from 2017–2019. 

Dr. Kotlyar is a current member of American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Society of Retina Specialists. He is fluent in English, Russian and speaks basic Spanish. Outside of work, his interests include traveling, Ultimate Frisbee, cooking, and science fiction.