As an admitting hospitalist, my focus is to facilitate a smooth transition between the emergency department and the inpatient  admission. 

Waiting to be admitted to the hospital can be nerve wracking, emotional, and even scary. My goal is to ease  your transition from waiting in the ER to being admitted, explain your condition, and answer all questions you may have. Raised and educated locally, it is my pleasure to serve this wonderful community of people who call the South Shore home. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and exploring/discovering all that the area has to offer.   

William Tollefsen, MD is the EMS and MIH Medical Director for South Shore Health. Dual-boarded in Emergency Medicine and EMS Medicine, Dr. Tollefsen works clinically as an Emergency Physician at South Shore Health in addition to his role as EMS Medical Director.

One of few physicians in the country to receive the prestigious "FAEMS" recognition, Dr. Tollefsen is also the Medical Director for OEMS Region IV, serving 61 cities and towns of the Metro-Boston EMS Council. As the current EMS Medical Director for eight municipal and three private ambulance services on the South Shore, Dr. Tollefsen interacts and provides oversight for over 400 Paramedics.

Dr. Tollefsen graduated from New York Medical College and completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's, and Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed a fellowship in Emergency Medical Services and Critical Care Transport at the University of Massachusetts, where he worked as an Emergency Physician and Flight Physician for UMASS LifeFlight. He completed an MBA at the Isenberg School of Management at UMASS Amherst, and holds a Master of Medical Science degree from the Boston University School of Medicine.

A former pre-hospital provider, he is actively involved in EMS system design, paramedic education and Critical Care Transport Systems. He works closely with multiple EMS, Fire and Law Enforcement agencies throughout Massachusetts.

His research interests include systems of care, resuscitation, airway management, and paramedic education.

The root of the word “doctor” originated from the latin word docere, which means to teach. My philosophy as a doctor is to teach and educate my patients on their conditions and general health.

I love to learn and, therefore, I chose being a doctor as my profession. Being a physician means a life time of learning about diseases and medicine, but more importantly, I get to learn the story behind each of my patients.

Outside of work, I love to learn to sail, and flying. I am also an avid rock climber, hiker, and traveler.

I strive to build a space where patients feel safe to discuss their health concerns and engage in shared decision-making.

Prior to joining South Shore Health, I had the privilege to train at UMass Family Medicine Residency and complete an additional year of fellowship to also care for patients living with HIV/viral hepatitis at the Family Health Center of Worcester.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, running, gardening, and camping/hiking.

In my career as an emergency physician, I have gotten to take care of patients in both the usual emergency department setting as well as some other unusual environment. Regardless of the location, one thing remains the same - it is about the patient and the care they need at a time of medical crisis. I spend most of my time outside of work, still engaged in medicine with a variety of emergency response organizations as well as the military.