A photo of David M. Ritter.

David M. Ritter, MD, PhD


  • Attending Neurologist, Division of Neurology
  • Director of Clinical Operations, Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic
  • Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
Every patient and family deserve an individualized approach. By working together, we can create the best outcome for each child.
David M. Ritter, MD, PhD

About

Biography

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.

MD: Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 2015.

PhD: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 2015.

Residency: Child Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2020.

Interests

General neurology; tuberous sclerosis; PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome

Services and Specialties

Neurology

Interests

Tuberous sclerosis complex; PTEN; rhabdomyomas; perinatal care; autism; epilepsy

Research Areas

Neurology

Insurance Information

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Publications

Selected

Healthcare provider recognition of pregnancy related risks and management considerations in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Rose, M; Ritter, D; Gupta, N; Tolusso, L; Horn, P; Wakefield, E; Glass, J. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 2024; 19:4.

Selected

Preventative treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex with sirolimus: Phase I safety and efficacy results. Capal, JK; Ritter, DM; Franz, DN; Griffith, M; Currans, K; Kent, B; Martina Bebin, E; Northrup, H; Koenig, MK; Mizuno, T; Greiner, HM; Holland-Bouley, K; Horn, PS; Krueger, DA. 2024; 2:106-119.

Selected

Exploring the neurological features of individuals with germline PTEN variants: A multicenter study. Dhawan, A; Baitamouni, S; Liu, D; Busch, R; Klaas, P; Frazier, TW; Srivastava, S; Parikh, S; Hsich, GE; Friedman, NR; Ritter, DM; Hardan, AY; Martinez-Agosto, JA; Sahin, M; Eng, C. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. 2024; 11:1301-1309.

Selected

Prevalence of thoracoabdominal imaging findings in tuberous sclerosis complex. Ritter, DM; Fessler, BK; Ebrahimi-Fakhari, D; Wei, J; Franz, DN; Krueger, DA; Trout, AT; Towbin, AJ. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 2022; 17:124.

Selected

In Silico Predictions of KCNQ Variant Pathogenicity in Epilepsy. Ritter, DM; Horn, PS; Holland, KD. Pediatric Neurology. 2021; 118:48-54.

Selected

Dysregulation of Kv3.4 channels in dorsal root ganglia following spinal cord injury. Ritter, DM; Zemel, BM; Hala, TJ; O'Leary, ME; Lepore, AC; Covarrubias, M. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 2015; 35:1260-1273.

Estradiol- and Progesterone-Associated Changes in microRNA-Induced Silencing and Reduced Antiseizure Efficacy of an Antagomir in Female Mice. Tiwari, D; Rajathi, V; Rymer, JK; Beasley, LN; McGann, AM; Bunk, AT; Parkins, EV; Rice, MF; Smith, KE; Ritter, DM; White, AR; Doerning, CM; Gross, C. eNeuro. 2023; 10.

Diabetes in Individuals With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Treated With mTOR Inhibitors. Agricola, K; Stires, G; Krueger, DA; Capal, JK; Franz, DN; Ritter, DM. Pediatric Neurology. 2021; 120:7-10.

Acute Ataxia and Paresthesia in a Healthy 5-year-old Girl. Taylor, RJ; Ritter, DM; Frazier, ME; Zackoff, MW. Pediatrics in review / American Academy of Pediatrics. 2021; 42:329-331.

Treatment of SCN4A-induced myotonic crisis. Ritter, DM; Tian, C; Broomall, E. Muscle and Nerve. 2021; 63:E59-E61.

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4.6
Overall Patient Rating