Dr. Lauren Bojarski
NEUROLOGIS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT
WVU ROCKEFELLER NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE
Dr. Lauren Bojarski is a Neurologist, Assistant Professor, and Associate
Program Director at the
WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, who is redefining the "art
of resilience" through the lens of vulnerability. Despite a decorated career—including
a "Rising Star" award, a "Kentucky Colonel" commission, and the national
ACGME David C. Leach Award for her contributions to resident education—Dr.
Bojarski once found herself paralyzed by a panic attack in the ER, convinced
she was a fraud. This pivotal moment revealed a profound truth: professional
excellence does not cure "imposter phenomenon"—the persistent feeling of
being a fraud despite clear evidence of success.
A specialist in Alzheimer’s and geriatric neurology, Dr. Bojarski now treats resilience not as a fixed trait, but as a practice of "facing it until you make it". From leading development of the award-winning Virtual Neurology Handbook to serving on wellness committees both institutionally and nationally to teaching the next generation of physicians how to overcome their imposter phenomenon, her career focuses on advocating for systemic cultural shifts. Her talk challenges us to trade the mask of perfection for a growth mindset, proving that acknowledging our feelings of inadequacy is the first step toward true, unshakeable strength.