<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                                                      6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM 
WESTMED VENTURE  PARTNERS,  L.P.'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE PERIOD 
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                         DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                                  9,247,669
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                                11,533,351
<RECEIVABLES>                                                             13,659
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            39,419
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                   6,135,508
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        17,721,937
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                       0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                        0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                              4,723,789
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                    4,723,789
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                                0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                       0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                     66,929
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     66,929
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                      0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                         0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                        0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                       0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                               2,285,682
<NET-ASSETS>                                                          12,998,148
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                              0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                        240,853
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                                 0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                           582,106
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                (341,253)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                               1,705,622
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                307,960
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                  1,672,329
<EQUALIZATION>                                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                  4,529,538
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                        0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                                    0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                            0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                               (2,857,209)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                        0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                      0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                        0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                     0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                                0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                  14,426,753
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                        235
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                              (5)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                       29
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                      0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                          67
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                          192
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                                0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                         0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                           0
        



</TABLE>