The Venice Family Clinic’s mission is to improve the health of people and communities through accessible, quality care. Founded in 1970, the Clinic has grown from a small storefront operation into the largest free clinic in the nation.
The founder, Dr. Phillip Rossman, and co-founder, Dr. Mayer Davidson began seeing patients in a Venice dental office. They called upon their friends and colleagues to help. That spirit of volunteerism prevails today with over 2,000 volunteers and $5 million dollars in-kind contributions from hospitals, laboratories, specialty-care providers and pharmaceutical companies.
The clinic provides free comprehensive primary health care, mental health services, health education and child development services as well as public insurance enrollment to nearly 22,000 patients, including over 5,000 children, who make 106,000 visits.
The Venice Family Clinic also provide prescription medicines at no charge. The patients are poor, have no private health insurance though a majority are hard working and hold two or three jobs. We also serve 3,500 homeless people. The patients live primarily in Venice, Santa Monica, Palms, Mar Vista, Inglewood, Culver City and other areas throughout Los Angeles County.
