The physician's guide to a long, meaningful life: Good genes, good luck, good principles

Howard Tucker, M.D., J.D., had been certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s “Oldest Practicing Doctor” when he died at age 103 in December 2025.

As a neurologist, he oversaw care for countless patients during a career that spanned decades. He was much more: A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, husband, father, grandfather, the oldest person to pass the bar at age 67 in his native Ohio, and more lately a social media star who shared secrets to a long life via TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

Tucker also spoke to Medical Economics for the publication’s centennial edition published in October 2023. His reflections were in the article, “‘I was very lucky:’ 101-year-old doctor reflects on his career and a century of change.”

“I think I always felt I’d become a professional man rather than a businessman. And medicine seemed a place where you could get a lot of gratification from treating patients,” he said.

This week, CNBC Make It published Tucker’s guest essay, written shortly before his death and published with his family’s permission. Here is: “At 103 years old, I’m the ‘world’s oldest doctor’: My 3 rules for a long, happy life are so simple — I tell it to ‘all my patients’.”

His obituary is here.