How old is the oldest doctor?

The oldest currently practicing doctor, holding the Guinness World Record, is Dr. Howard Tucker, a neurologist from Ohio, who was celebrating his 103rd birthday in mid-2025 and still lecturing, though he stopped seeing patients in late 2022 but remains active in medical education. Historically, the oldest practicing physician ever recorded was Dr. Leila Denmark, who retired at age 103 in 2001 and lived to be 114, according to Guinness World Records.

Who is the oldest doctor ever?

Howard Tucker (July 10, 1922 – December 22, 2025) was an American neurologist who practiced medicine from 1947 until his death in 2025. In addition to becoming a lawyer and passing the Ohio Bar Examination at age 67 in 1989, Tucker was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest practicing doctor.

Who is the oldest person to be a doctor?

While there isn't one definitive "oldest person to become a doctor" globally confirmed, Ingeborg Rapoport (102) holds the record for the oldest person to receive a doctorate degree (in divinity, but a famous older graduate), and Dr. Howard Tucker (over 100) is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest practicing physician, having graduated medical school in the 1940s, demonstrating remarkable longevity in the profession. Many older individuals, like Toh Hong Keng (70) and others in their 50s and 60s, have recently graduated or started medical school, proving it's never too late to pursue the dream.
 

What is the lifespan of a doctor?

A doctor's life expectancy varies significantly by specialty, with primary care physicians generally living longest (around 80 years) and emergency medicine doctors having the shortest (around 58-71 years), though overall doctors often live longer than the general population, with cancer and heart disease being leading causes of death, and issues like stress, burnout, and shift work impacting longevity in certain fields. 

Which doctor is the oldest?

The title for the world's oldest practicing doctor belongs to Dr. Howard Tucker, a neurologist from Cleveland, Ohio, recognized by Guinness World Records for his longevity and continued medical work, even into his 100s, though he's now focusing on training residents and teaching after practicing for over 75 years. He earned his medical degree in 1947, served in the Korean War, and holds multiple other distinctions, including being a lawyer and a viral social media figure.
 

105-Years-Old: the World's Oldest Doctor?

What doctors live the longest?

Data were extracted from 8156 obituaries. The specialties with the oldest average age at death were general practitioners (80.3, SD = 12.5, n = 2508), surgeons (79.9, SD = 13.6, n = 853) and pathologists (79.8, SD = 13.8, n = 394).

Why do doctors live longer?

They eat healthy. They exercise regularly. Many of us (including me) are way behind them when it comes to these habits. A study done by the American Medical Association a number of years ago concluded that physicians, on average, live up to 10 years longer than the general public.

What profession lives the longest?

While it varies, educators (teachers) consistently rank among the professions with the longest lifespans, with studies showing they live longer than most other public employees, alongside professions like clergy, accountants, and primary care physicians, often linked to less physical stress, better autonomy, and higher education levels. However, factors like genetics, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status play a bigger role than occupation itself, with older studies even showing different results, highlighting that work environment and control are key. 

At what age do most doctors retire?

Most doctors retire in their late 60s or early 70s, with many working past traditional retirement age due to high earning potential, job satisfaction, and financial planning needs, though nearly 30% retire between 60-65, and some even earlier, influenced by burnout, specialty, and personal health. The average retirement age hovers around 65-68, with specialties like Pathology and Dermatology seeing later retirements (around 69) compared to Surgery (around 61) or OB/GYN (64.5). 

At what age do doctors stop?

The traditional retirement age varies between countries, but usually is determined around 65 years. As average life expectancy increases, people continue their career beyond this age.

Who was the surgeon with a 300% death rate?

Robert Liston is known as the one-time fastest surgeon in London, the first to use anaesthetic, and for conducting a surgery that had a 300% mortality rate.

Who is the youngest Dr. ever?

The youngest person to ever qualify as a doctor is Dr. Balamurali Ambati, who earned his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1995 at the age of 17 years and 294 days, securing a Guinness World Record. An Indian-American ophthalmologist, Ambati's prodigious talent included graduating high school at 11 and college at 13, driven by a childhood inspiration to heal after a burns accident.
 

What is the longest a doctor can work?

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has limited the number of work-hours to 80 hours weekly, overnight call frequency to no more than one in three, 30-hour maximum straight shifts, and at least 10 hours off between shifts.

Who is the youngest doctor to graduate?

The youngest person to become a doctor, according to the Guinness World Records, is Balamurali Krishna "Bala" Ambati, who earned his M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine at the age of 17 years and 294 days in 1995, after an accelerated education where he graduated high school at 11 and college (NYU) at 13.
 

Can I become a doctor at age 70?

In the US, the average age of those who start medical school is 24. However, many individuals complete medical school and become a doctor later in life. For some, it is a career change or a new passion. No matter the reason, it is not too late to pursue a career in medicine as a doctor.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Jobs that can pay $400K a year without a degree include commercial real estate brokers, successful YouTubers or influencers, self-employed software developers, high-stakes sales roles like enterprise tech sales, and business owners. These roles rely on skill, market demand, and performance rather than formal education.

What is the #1 happiest profession?

10 of the Happiest and Most Satisfying Jobs

1. 1 | Real Estate Sales Agents. ...
2. 2 | Construction Managers. ...
3. 3 | Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers. ...
4. 4 | Software Developers. ...
5. 5 | Fitness Trainers and Instructors. ...
6. 6 | Firefighters. ...
7. 7 | Clergy. ...
8. 8 | Physicians and Surgeons.

What profession ages you the most?

Firefighting ranks highest on the Ageing Impact Index, with the combination of constant danger, unpredictable hours and intense stress levels creating a heavy toll.

Who do doctors most often marry?

About 85% of physicians are married, according to an online survey, and these doctors often marry other doctors or other health professionals.

What is the leading cause of death in doctors?

Neoplasms and heart disease were the leading causes of death across all occupation groups, with mortality from neoplasms higher among surgeons (193.2 per 100,000 population) than any other group, including nonsurgeon physicians (87.5 per 100,000 population).

Why did God limit life to 120 years?

The "120 years" in {!nav}Genesis 6:3 is interpreted in two main ways: as a countdown to the Flood, a deadline for humanity to repent before destruction, rather than a permanent lifespan limit, or as a reduction in human longevity due to increasing wickedness, leading to shorter lives after the Flood. While some believe it limits individual lifespans, biblical accounts show people living longer after the Flood, supporting the idea that it was a time limit for judgment or a consequence of a more corrupt world, with shorter lifespans becoming common later (around 70-80 years). 

Do most doctors retire as millionaires?

One-quarter of doctors in their 60s are not even millionaires. The chart from the prior year was even more stunning, as it showed 11%-12% of doctors in their 60s didn't even have a net worth over $500,000, and only 48% of doctors over 65 were multi-millionaires.

How long do cardiologists live?

Cardiologists lived to the age of 73.4 (±13) years. This was a shorter lifespan than dermatologists (76.5 ±13 years) but longer than gastroenterologists (70 ±16 years).

What type of doctor takes the longest to become?

The doctor who takes the longest to become is often a Neurosurgery specialist, with standard residencies lasting 7 years, but this can extend to 8-10+ years with research or combined programs like Pediatric Neurosurgery or Vascular Surgery, often involving multiple fellowships, making fields like Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery or complex surgical subspecialties among the longest paths overall.