Professor battles medical challenges

On Aug. 25, CSB+SJU students opened LinkedIn to see a jarring update about Boz Bostrom, an accounting professor on campus. Bostrom shared with his media following that he would be absent from the classroom for the first few days of school because of health issues. He later found out he was experiencing end-stage liver failure.

End-stage liver failure is a severe and irreversible condition where the liver is no longer able to perform its essential functions. Bostrom said he was shocked when he received the news.

“I went into the hospital right before classes started with a lot of discomfort, I thought it was a digestive or gallstone issue. Then the doctor came into my room and told me it was end-stage liver failure, and that I needed a transplant or else I’m not going to make it,” Bostrom said.

Bostrom is well-known on campus for being a genuine and candid person. He has been teaching accounting at CSB+SJU since 2004 and has actively contributed to the success of the schools’ accounting program. He talked about the success of the department in a recent LinkedIn post.

“I was looking through student enrollment in our department and noticed we will have 75 senior accounting majors this year. Over the past decade, we have averaged a bit under 50 per year. That’s a 50% increase,” Bostrom said via a LinkedIn post. “Nationally, the number of students taking the CPA exam has fallen by 33% over the past six years. How do we do it? We get to know students personally, starting in their very first semester of college.”

Bostrom’s commitment to his students is remembered by alumni.

“He clearly deeply cares for each student who walks on campus. He’s always there with a helping hand and wants everyone to succeed even if you’re not in his class which is crazy, there is no reason he needs to do that, but he literally cares for everyone.” Kaylee Ringstad (CSB ‘24) said.

Despite his health issues, Bostrom continues to teach. “I’ve always helped so many students and advised so many students, and I feel like I’ve taken that for granted. I’m one of the leaders who people come to and depend on a lot,” Bostrom said. “That’s why I’m still here. If I sat at home all day, I would just feel the pain in myabdomen, I would feel my liver failing and that’s miserable.”

Bostrom’s continual presence in the accounting department has been impactful for many current students.

“Boz is very approachable, his care for his students doesn’t go unnoticed,” CSB senior Becca Ringstad said.

The news of Bostrom’s liver failure came just after he celebrated 10 years of sobriety. He posted about both moments to his 500+ LinkedIn connections.

“I’ve always been open about my life. If others can benefit from it, I want to take them on the whole journey,” Bostrom said. “If I can fight through this and live another 25-30 years, the influence I could have on my family, students and community would be so important.”

One year into his sobriety, Bostrom found out he had cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue that replaces healthy liver tissue, interfering with the liver’s ability to function properly.

“He said ‘Do you know you have cirrhosis?’ I said ‘NO?!’ He told me that I can’t reverse it. I was doing the right thing by not drinking, but he warned me that the day might come that I need a transplant,” Bostrom said.

Through the last few weeks, Bostrom said he has relied on his faith to come to terms with his condition.

“I have a strong faith. The strong faith just kind of keeps me comfortable about where I’ll be if it all goes south. A big part of what caused my alcoholism was my anxiety. But now I realize there’s no point to sitting here worrying, it’s an understanding that it’s out of my hands,” Bostrom said.

When reflecting on his experiences, Bostrom offered some advice:

“You don’t judge yourself against others, you judge yourself by whether you’re being the best person you need to be.”