I was drawn to family medicine because joining patients on their journeys to healthier, happier lifestyles is incredibly rewarding. I strive to always provide care that is patient-centered and evidence-based in both primary care and the hospital. Outside of medicine, I love traveling and enjoying new restaurants with my wife.

I've worked in the pediatric health care field since high school and by the time I went to college, I knew it would be my career. Children are all different, there is no lock and key to the care and respect they deserve. It's been an honor working with so many wonderful patients and their families, especially watching them grow and take on new aspects of life. Outside of work, I love the outdoors, gardening and traveling with my husband.

I consider myself lucky to do something that I love. Children and teens are great at reminding adults about the little joys of life while also presenting us with various medical and behavioral challenges. I enjoy navigating these challenges with each family to find the right approach for their child. Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband and three (lovable and challenging) children. I enjoy running with my dog, biking, swimming, skiing, and occasionally a good day of yard work. 

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.

My goal is to provide patients with a deep understanding of their problem and work together to get the best results possible. 

What I love about orthopedic surgery is the ability to make a profound impact on the quality of life of my patients. No two shoulders are the same, so I think it is crucial to spend time talking with patients to understand their presentation and come up with a treatment plan. Technology is ever evolving and I think it is important to integrate that into my practice to ensure great outcomes. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and going to the beach.

Being a physician is an honor and a privilege I have enjoyed since graduating from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1979.  As my patients know I am interested in your life, your passions and the Orthopaedic issues that frustrate you and how I might be of assistance to you.  Surgery is not always a solution.

I take care of newborn infants and their great grandmothers.  In an era of sub-specialization, I am the "silver haired" General Orthopaedist but have maintained my surgical skills and remain confident in my abilities.  I have been fortunate to have treated multiple generations of my friends and neighbors here on the South Shore and work in a hospital committed to clinical excellence and compassionate care.

I grew up in a small town in Northern New York, and joined South Shore Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2012. I completed my undergraduate and medical education as well as my general surgical training and surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. I am also fellowship trained in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. I have had a long-standing passion in bariatric and weight-loss surgery and my goal in joining the South Shore Hospital team was to bring that expertise and opportunity to the South Shore community. The hospital has been very supportive in this endeavor and over the past few years we have created a collaborative team of providers from across institutions to start the South Shore Hospital Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. As medical director it has been my pleasure to help the program grow into a strong clinical component  of the department of surgery and create more outreach into the community. I am also actively engaged as a trauma surgeon and have a busy general surgery practice taking care of a variety of disease processes including the minimally invasive management of gallbladder disease, hernia, GERD, hiatal hernias, as well as the surgical management of a variety of other gastrointestinal disorders. When I am not working, I enjoy the simple things in life like relaxing by a large campfire or spending the day at the beach with my family.