William B. Stetson, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon with Stetson Lee Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Burbank, California, has been named a 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the 11th time he has received this honor. Only about 7 percent of licensed physicians in the United States are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions, making this recognition a significant peer-reviewed distinction.
Dr. Stetson, who co-founded his practice in 2005, specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and surgical treatment of orthopaedic trauma. He treats patients of all ages and has particular expertise in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery for complex injuries of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle. His procedures include rotator-cuff repair, meniscus repair and meniscectomy, reconstruction of knee ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), treatment of recurrent shoulder dislocation, and repair of traumatic injuries. He prefers minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques but also performs traditional open surgeries when necessary. "We give each patient individualized, personalized care, and we recommend surgery only when it is necessary," Dr. Stetson said.
Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Stetson serves as the doctor for Olympics Team USA men's and women's indoor volleyball teams. He founded Operation Arthroscopy, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing orthopaedic surgery and arthroscopy to underserved populations, and SurgTime, a telesurgery platform that enhances access to surgical education and interactive resources in real time. Dr. Stetson is also an adjunct clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and has over 25 years of teaching experience.
Dr. Stetson is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with subspecialty certification in orthopaedic sports medicine and is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. He is affiliated with Adventist Health Glendale and the Alameda Surgery Center, which he co-founded. His medical degree is from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and he completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Los Angeles County Medical Center and USC Medical Center, followed by a sports medicine fellowship at the Southern California Orthopaedic Institute.
This latest recognition adds to Dr. Stetson's numerous awards, including the 2007 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award and induction into the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2024. He has consistently been named one of "America's Top Orthopedists" by the Consumers' Research Council of America and is a member of the Southern California Super Doctors Hall of Fame. "It is an honor to be nominated by my peers for this award," Dr. Stetson said. The Castle Connolly selection process, which relies on peer nominations and physician-led research, ensures that honorees are chosen based on their medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories, with no payment involved in the selection.
