Robert S. Venick

MD, MSCR

Dr. Robert Venick graduated with a major in Public Policy from Duke University prior to attending medical school at University of Southern California.  He completed his pediatric residency as well as his fellowship in Pediatric GI/Hepatology and Nutrition at UCLA, where he also pursued a Master of Science in Clinical Research.

Dr. Venick has been a faculty member at UCLA since 2006.  He serves as Director of Pediatric Liver Transplantation and Pediatric and Adult Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation Services at UCLA.  In 2024 he became interim Division Chief for the division of pediatric GI/Hepatology and Nutrition at UCLA, and in 2026 was named Division Chief. Dr. Venick has received funding from the National Institute of Health, the American Society of Transplantation and The Transplantation Society. He has held leadership roles in the International Liver Transplant Society and the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Association. He has authored over 120 peer reviewed publications, and book chapters.

Dr. Venick is well known for his communication abilities, especially in working with the families of sick children. He understands when children are extremely ill, parents are under tremendous stress, not knowing what is happening to their children. Dr. Venick has a gift of creating calm in parents and children alike, explaining in simple words the conditions of their children’s health and bringing them to trust him and the treatment he prescribes.

As a part of his dedication to serve liver patients he has taught himself to speak Spanish when needed. He can communicate easily with the Spanish speaking families and puts them at ease. When he is around, there is no need for interpreters.

Dr. Venick’s focus and specialties are concentrated on two areas, pediatric liver disease-liver failure-liver cancer and pediatric intestinal failure. Over the years he has been a strong supporter of split-liver and living-donor liver transplants. His research on pediatric intestinal diseases has been innovative and has brought recognition and honor to him not only in UCLA but also nationally and internationally. He led research and implementation of alternate lipid formula that has saved thousands of young lives.

Dr. Venick serves on many community foundations and boards to support and help patients. From 2006 to present he has been serving as Physician Advisor to the leaders of Inner-City After School Center regarding pediatric nutrition and health-related issues at Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA).

Since 2013, Dr. Venick has helped Clinical Resource Center Alpha-1 Foundation as the UCLA Faculty Advisor. He is also a member of many UCLA committees, including UCLA Liver Transplant Executive Committee, UCLA Physician Advocate Council Member, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA Clinical Care Transformative Council, UCLA Pediatric Services Committee, Pediatric Clinical Research Steering Committee, UCLA Pediatric Clinical & Quality Mission Area Committee, and UCLA Pediatric Clinical Trials Faculty Development Committee.

Dr. Venick is well known among medical professionals. He continues to serve on many professional committees and organizations. He has been the Chair of the Scientific Committee, Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Association, Founding & Executive Member of NASPGHAN Intestinal Rehabilitation Special Interest Group, Site Investigator at Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Transplantation, Chairperson of Data and Safety Monitoring Board at NIH Pediatric Acute Liver Failure Immune Response Network’s, Treatment for Immune Mediated Pathophysiology, co-chair of the UCLA Pediatric Clinical & Quality Mission Area Committee, co-chair UCLA Pediatric Clinical Trials Faculty Development Committee.
The one sentence that describes Dr. Venick the best is “his patients love him.”

Dr. Venick also serves on the Liver Health Foundation’s Medical Advisory Council (MAC). We are proud and honored to acknowledge Dr. Venick’s remarkable accomplishments and service to liver community.

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