World’s Oldest Practicing Doctor | Doctor Walter Watson

Doctor Walter Watson held the world’s record as the world’s oldest practicing doctor. Dr Walter Watson, known to many as “Papa Doc”, has delivered 18,000 babies in his 100 years of life – celebrated last month -and still comes into the clinic regularly to see his patients – setting the world record for the Oldest Practicing Doctor.

although he has retired from that particular role, he still makes an effort to see around 5 patients every day, including new ones. There are many Augusta-area families that have several generations of babies delivered by the doctor.

University Hospital in Augusta honoured their oldest and most valued obstetrician and gynaecologist, whose name is already brandished on the entrance to the health facility’s women’s centre. People came to the hospital to honor Watson and his wife Audrey and say happy birthday. They wore stickers that declared them a “Watson Baby” or the mother of a “Watson Baby,” often both. However, Watson says he doesn’t feel a day over 99. “People think it is hard today,” Watson said. “It doesn’t compare with ’31.”

In an interview with CNN, Watson says that he served in the army before becoming a qualified doctor in May 1947. The doc’s entry into the trade was far from easy. Watson spent 7 years working on a farm in Edgefield doing hard labour for as little as 50 cents a day in order to afford medical school.

Dr Watson turned 100 on February 25. “I get up at 6.45, have my breakfast and get to the hospital by 8.30,” he said.

“I stopped delivering babies when my eyesight got bad but I do my rounds at the nursing stations and operating rooms just like I’ve always done.” The women’s centre at University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, bears Dr Watson’s name and there is a bronze statue of him holding a newborn baby.

Dr Watson also delivered his colleague at the hospital, Dr Michel McDonough, who is young enough to be his grandson.
Dr. McDonough said: “His work ethic is unsurpassed by anybody.“He was around before beepers – back then you were either at the hospital, at home or at church.”

Dr. Watson says he has no plans for retirement despite suffering from minor arthritis and diminished eyesight and hearing.
“I love medicine and I love having contact with people,” he said. “It gives me a reason to crawl out of bed in the mornings.”

According to records Dr Watson is the oldest practising doctor. The previous record holder was Dr. Leila Denmark, also of Georgia, who practised until she turned 102 in 2000.

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