Orthopaedic surgeon William B. Stetson, MD, has been recognized as a 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the eleventh time he has received this prestigious designation. This repeated honor matters because Castle Connolly selection represents peer validation of medical excellence, with only about 7 percent of licensed physicians in the United States chosen annually as Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions.
Dr. Stetson co-founded Stetson Lee Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Burbank in 2005 and has been in private practice since 1995. His specialization in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and surgical treatment of orthopaedic trauma impacts patients across all age groups. The significance of his expertise lies in performing arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery for complex injuries of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle, along with treating arthritis and related orthopaedic issues.
His surgical procedures include rotator-cuff repair, meniscus repair and meniscectomy, reconstruction of knee ligaments including the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), treatment of recurrent shoulder dislocation and shoulder bursitis and impingement, and repair and reconstruction of traumatic injuries. Dr. Stetson performs most surgeries minimally invasively through arthroscopy but also conducts traditional open surgeries when appropriate. This surgical approach demonstrates the importance of tailored patient care, as he emphasizes, "We give each patient individualized, personalized care, and we recommend surgery only when it is necessary."
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Stetson's impact extends to Olympic sports medicine as the doctor for Olympics Team USA men's and women's indoor volleyball teams. His broader healthcare influence includes founding Operation Arthroscopy, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing orthopaedic surgery and arthroscopy to people in need, and SurgTime, a telesurgery platform that expands access to surgical education and interactive resources in real time. These initiatives highlight how technological innovation and global outreach can transform healthcare accessibility.
As an adjunct clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine with over 25 years of teaching experience, Dr. Stetson contributes to medical education while maintaining affiliations with Adventist Health Glendale and the Alameda Surgery Center, which he co-founded. The Castle Connolly selection process adds credibility to these achievements, as Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team based on medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at https://www.castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications, with doctors unable to pay for selection.
Dr. Stetson's medical background includes earning his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, completing a five-year orthopaedic surgery residency at Los Angeles County Medical Center and USC Medical Center, and a one-year sports medicine fellowship at the Southern California Orthopaedic Institute where he learned shoulder and knee arthroscopy from pioneers in the field. His additional honors include the 2007 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, induction into the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2024, consistent recognition as one of "America's Top Orthopedists" by the Consumers' Research Council of America, and membership in the Southern California Super Doctors Hall of Fame. These cumulative achievements underscore why his repeated Top Doctor recognition matters: it validates sustained excellence in orthopaedic care, surgical innovation, and medical education that benefits patients, athletes, and the broader healthcare community.
