William B. Stetson, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at 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 U.S. are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions, according to the organization.
Dr. Stetson, who has been in private practice since 1995, specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and surgical treatment of orthopaedic trauma. He treats patients of all ages, with expertise in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery for complex injuries of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle. He also addresses arthritis-related orthopaedic issues. 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 performs most surgeries minimally invasively but also uses traditional open techniques when needed.
Dr. Stetson emphasized patient-centered care, stating, "We give each patient individualized, personalized care, and we recommend surgery only when it is necessary." He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with subspecialty certification in orthopaedic sports medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Arthroscopy Association of North America.
Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Stetson serves as the physician for the U.S. Olympic men's and women's indoor volleyball teams. He founded Operation Arthroscopy, a nonprofit that provides orthopaedic surgery and arthroscopy to underserved populations, and SurgTime, a telesurgery platform that enhances surgical education and interactive resources in real time. He 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, including at Los Angeles County Medical Center.
Dr. Stetson is affiliated with Adventist Health Glendale and co-founded the Alameda Surgery Center. His recognition as a Top Doctor is based on peer nominations and selection by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. "It is an honor to be nominated by my peers for this award," Dr. Stetson said. He earned his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, completed 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.
Dr. Stetson's other honors include the 2007 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, induction into the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2024, and repeated recognition as one of "America's Top Orthopedists" by the Consumers' Research Council of America. He has also been listed on the Southern California Super Doctors list for many years and is a member of its Hall of Fame.
