Howard Tucker, MD, a neurologist in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, is the oldest practicing physician in the world, according to a March 24 report by Ideastream Public Media.
Here are five things to know about Dr. Tucker and his lifelong career in medicine:
1. In 2021, Guinness World Records informed Dr. Tucker that he would be recognized as the oldest practicing physician in the world.
2. Dr. Tucker later went viral when his grandson, Austin Tucker, recorded and posted videos of him to Tik Tok making jokes and sharing advice.
3. In 1960, Dr. Tucker had a brush with fame when he saved the lives of two young sisters who had mysteriously fallen into comas. According to the report, the girls had previously been suspected of having a never-before-seen metabolic disorder. Dr. Tucker tested the girls’ blood before and after visiting hours, and found barbiturates in their systems. The discovery led to the realization that the girls’ mother had been poisoning them, and the story was later covered by Time and Life magazines.
4. Dr. Tucker is now 102 years old. While no longer practicing, he still gives medical lectures and consults on legal cases.
5. Dr. Tucker’s grandson has made a documentary about his life. “Part of this younger generation, we’ve grown up with a lot of chaos … but just seeing how he’s able to move forward and just look at what’s in front of him and just find a way to overcome hurdles, [it’s impressive],” he told the publication.”