Dr. Tolo received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Zoology from Concordia College in 1964, and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1968. He completed his surgical and orthopaedic training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he also was Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics for 11 years before coming to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. In 2001, he was selected for the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars award. In addition, Dr. Tolo has been active in several orthopaedic associations. He has been president of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, the Scoliosis Research Society, and the Orthopaedic Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is also past president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, with a membership of over 25,000 orthopaedic surgeons. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery for nearly 5 years and is currently Editor Emeritus for this journal.