Clinical Spotlight: Dr. Adam Deardorff

Premier Pulse September 2025 Sep 26, 2025

Advancing ALS Care and Research in the Miami Valley

Tell Us About You

What is your clinical specialty? I am a physician–scientist in neurology and neuromuscular medicine, leading NIH-funded research on neuromuscular diseases while directing a Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic to advance patient care and new therapies.

Where did you go to school? I completed my MD/PhD and neurology residency at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine and a fellowship in neuromuscular medicine at The Ohio State University.

What brought you to Premier Health? Premier Health’s commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care makes it a natural home for my work. Launching the first Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic in Miami Valley and strengthening our affiliation with Wright State allows me to combine research and clinical care, serving patients close to home with a dedicated team I’m proud to be part of.

Why did you choose medicine as a career? I’ve been fascinated by the brain for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would stare for hours at a brightly colored model brain at home, learning from my parents how each section had its own role—vision, hearing, movement, speech. That early lesson in neurologic “localization” stayed with me and eventually grew into a career I love, combining science with caring for patients and families facing neurologic illness. Neurosurgeon and physiologist Wilder Penfield once said, “Other preoccupations were many and varied, but beneath them all was the sense of wonder and profound curiosity about the mind.” I couldn’t agree more—though I’d add the peripheral nervous system too!

Who are the people who influenced and/or mentored you? I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors, including my PhD advisors, Drs. Robert Fyffe and Timothy Cope, who taught me to think like a scientist, and my colleagues at Premier Health and Ohio State, who modeled compassionate, skilled care. At Wright State, Drs. Mark Rich, Eric Bennett, Bryan Ludwig, and Tracy Eicher continue to guide my research and clinical work. Above all, my patients are my greatest teachers, showing me the realities of neurologic disease and what truly matters in medicine.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you? I enjoy seeing concerts and playing guitar.

Where is your hometown? Cincinnati, OH

What, if any, sports team(s) do you cheer for? Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.

What is the last book you read? Advice for a Young Investigator by Santiago Ramon y Cajal

What is your favorite song in your playlist? Hard to say. I’ve been listening to a lot of Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings recently.

What is your favorite food? Pizza

What is your favorite hobby? Besides music, I like running, biking, and spending time outdoors.

What is your favorite animal, and why? Cats. They are hilarious and weird.

Where is your favorite vacation spot, and why? Anywhere with my family and outdoors.

Describe something (a thing, person, place, experience, etc.) for which you are especially thankful: I’m especially grateful for my wife, Beth, and daughter, Isla. Their support makes everything I do possible, and time with them is my favorite part of the day.