Kathryn Boger, Ph.D. | 2025 MHE Emerging Leaders in Healthcare

I’m a board-certified child and adolescent clinical psychologist dedicated to improving care for youth with anxiety and OCD. I grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living in a college dormitory where my father worked in higher education — an early influence that shaped my desire to support the next generation. I earned my undergraduate degree from Williams College and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Boston University. In 2013, I codeveloped the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program, a nationally recognized intensive treatment program. I was an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and have published research, delivered national talks (including TEDx) and authored “Step by Step,” a children’s book about facing fears. I cofounded InStride Health in 2021 to expand access to insurance-backed, evidence-based care for youth with anxiety and OCD.

Turning point in your career

Leaving academic medicine to start InStride Health with Mona Potter, M.D., was the riskiest — and most rewarding — move of my career. After spending my entire professional life in academic medicine, launching a high-growth startup was a massive leap, with a steep and constant learning curve. I had to adapt quickly and stretch beyond what had previously been my comfort zone. At one point, my brother-in-law said, “You know, Kat, if you’re feeling scared, it’s a sign that you’re growing.” That stuck with me. It’s become a mantra I continually return to — a reminder that growth and discomfort often travel together.

Biggest day-to-day challenges

Attracting, hiring and retaining top-tier clinicians is one of the most critical and constant challenges. We need to strike a balance of hiring at scale without compromising on clinical excellence or culture fit. Supporting clinicians through onboarding and beyond takes real investment, and it’s our team’s daily priority to make sure our team feels valued, equipped and aligned with our mission.

Top priority

Our top priority is maintaining high-quality care while expanding access for children, adolescents, young adults and families. We define quality through the lens of the Quadruple Aim: strong clinical outcomes, an exceptional patient and family experience, provider well-being and cost-effectiveness. All four must work in harmony — we won’t compromise one to achieve another.

Change one thing about U.S. healthcare

I’d ensure that all families — regardless of income, geography or background — have access to high-quality, evidence-based mental healthcare. Right now, too many kids and families are going untreated. Others are struggling to find care or are stuck on waitlists while symptoms worsen.

Book or article that everyone working in healthcare should read

A book I found particularly impactful is “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right” by Atul Gawande, M.D., M.P.H. It highlights how even the most skilled professionals can benefit from simple, well-designed systems to manage complexity and improve outcomes. The insights are highly applicable to our work in mental health; behavioral healthcare involves complex, multistep processes, including intake, diagnosis, treatment planning, safety assessments and care coordination. Critical steps can be missed. Checklists help standardize these steps and improve reliability. In high-growth mental health settings, they can be a valuable tool for scaling clinical quality, turning expert-level care into consistent, systemwide practice.

Personal goal this year

I want to be more present and take in the day-to-day moments. Between building InStride and raising three energetic boys, life is nonstop — full, busy and often chaotic. I’m working on enjoying the ride instead of racing to the destination.