David M. Ritter, MD, PhD

As a neurologist, I specialize in treating children and adolescents with neurogenetic diseases that cause autism and epilepsy. I'm interested in tuberous sclerosis complex and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) hamartoma tumor syndrome. These genetic conditions cause tumors and neurodevelopmental problems.

I was drawn to my field while watching my parents deal with my brother, who had neurologic issues. The positive outcomes and seeing children make even small improvements inspire me. Knowing that we still need to learn much more to get the best outcome for every child drives me to understand further how the nervous system works and what can go wrong.

I see general neurology patients in my practice and am a member of our Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Clinic. Every patient and family deserve an individualized approach. By working together, we can create the best outcome for each child. As a co-director of the Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic, I help lead our team in providing care to patients with tuberous sclerosis complex across their lifespan, from prenatal management to adult complications.

My research focuses on understanding the perinatal time frame of developmental disorders to allow for earlier treatments. My main work looks at understanding the earliest symptoms of tuberous sclerosis complex (cardiac rhabdomyoma) to help us enable early disease management. Additionally, I work on projects understanding the autism phenotype in tuberous sclerosis complex and PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome. I also participate in clinic trials of new medications and therapies for seizures and behavioral problems.

I am honored to have received the following awards: M. Richard Koenigsberger Award, awarded by the Child Neurology Society to the junior member with the best abstract in neonatal neurology, genetics, HIV or metabolic diseases (2019); the Research Innovation in Support of Excellence Award, a research award given to senior residents at Cincinnati Children's (2019-2020); and the Jefferson MD/PhD Thesis Prize for Innovations In Translation Research, given for the top MD/PhD student thesis (2015).

In my free time, I like playing basketball, hiking and running marathons. My wife and I have biological children and are also foster parents.