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 prestigious designation. Only about 7 percent of licensed physicians in the U.S. are chosen each year as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions.
In private practice since 1995, Dr. Stetson specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and the surgical treatment of orthopaedic trauma. He treats patients of all ages and has particular expertise in performing arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery to repair complex injuries of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle. He also treats arthritis and orthopaedic issues related to it.
Dr. Stetson performs procedures that 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. He performs most surgeries minimally invasively, but also performs traditional open surgeries when appropriate.
'We give each patient individualized, personalized care, and we recommend surgery only when it is necessary,' Dr. Stetson said.
Dr. Stetson is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, with subspecialty certification in orthopaedic sports medicine. He is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Stetson serves as the doctor for Olympics Team USA men's and women's indoor volleyball teams.
Dr. Stetson founded both 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.
Also an adjunct clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, he has more than 25 years of teaching experience. Dr. Stetson is affiliated with Adventist Health Glendale and the Alameda Surgery Center, which he cofounded.
Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. 'It is an honor to be nominated by my peers for this award,' Dr. Stetson said.
Dr. Stetson earned his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He 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 (SCOI), learning shoulder and knee arthroscopy from pioneers in the field.
Dr. Stetson has been honored with a number of professional and consumer awards, including the 2007 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award and induction into the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2024. He has been consistently 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.
