Ralph J. Venuto, M.D., FACS, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Venuto completed his medical degree at Jefferson University Medical School in Philadelphia, PA. After medical school, he completed a general surgery internship and residency at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), followed by an orthopedic residency at Columbia University. 

Dr. Venuto’s orthopedic career has been focused on helping athletes recover from injuries, regain their strength and get back on the path to victory. He’s a leading specialist in treating knee and shoulder disorders with arthroplasty and ligament reconstruction. Throughout his career, Dr. Venuto’s skill and expertise has allowed him to work with top professional, olympic and college athletes around the country, including Los Angeles Laker NBA superstar Karl Malone.

Dr. Venuto has a long and distinguished career behind him. Along with running a private practice in Los Angeles, he’s served as a team physician for sports teams at the high school, college and professional levels. In 1984, he was the Chief Medical Officer for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 2004, Dr. Venuto was the first surgeon in California to perform a partial knee replacement in the outpatient setting, a procedure that vastly reduces in-hospital costs, recovery time and post-surgical discomfort. He was also the first surgeon in California to perform Carticel surgery and use a patient’s healthy cartilage cells to repair cartilage defects in the knee. Dr. Venuto was one of the first physicians in the country to perform arthroscopic surgery that caused less scarring and trauma, and he’s since performed over 15,000 arthroscopies that result in less pain and faster recovery for his patients. 

In addition to arthroplasty and ligament reconstruction, Dr. Venuto specializes in ACL reconstruction, microfracture surgery, rotator cuff repair, labral repair, repair of recurrent dislocation, viscosupplementation for arthritis, Carticel cell transplant surgery, and regenerative therapies (stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma) for conditions of the knee and shoulder. He’s written numerous papers and given several presentations on knee and shoulder conditions, prevention and care of orthopedic injuries, and advanced techniques in orthopedic surgery.

Sports medicine is Dr. Venuto’s true passion. His care goal is to help people of all ages and all levels of activity get back to a better quality of life. As a former athlete himself, he identifies with the frustration athletes feel when they experience an injury or painful condition like arthritis that keeps them from doing what they love. Dr. Venuto is dedicated to helping non-athletes, “weekend warriors,” olympians-in-training, and grandparents with rambunctious grandchildren participate in sports, play, and any physical activity their heart desires. “To enable my patients to do this…there’s nothing I do that’s more gratifying,” he says.  

Certifications

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Certified in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

Education 

Jefferson University Medical School

Medical Degree

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

Internship, General Surgery 

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

Residency, General Surgery

Columbia University

Residency, Orthopedic Surgery

Memberships

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Fellow

American College of Surgeons

Fellow

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine

Member, Certified

North American and International Arthroscopy Associations

Member

California Medical Association

Member

Orange County Medical Association

Member

International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS)

Certified

American College of Sports Medicine

Certified

Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgeons Society

Founding Member