THE doctor widely regarded as the father of paediatrics in Singapore - and a man who was a mentor to thousands of young physicians - died on Sunday following a short illness.

Emeritus Professor Wong Hock Boon, who founded Singapore's first paediatrics department in the 1960s, was 85.

A near-constant stream of doctors were seen paying their respects at Prof Wong's wake, which was held at his seaside bungalow in Sentosa Cove.

He died at his home on Sunday morning surrounded by family members and close friends. The Straits Times understands that he had been unwell recently but his family did not say why.

He had a stroke in 2004 and required help to walk.

Prof Wong became the country's first professor of paediatrics in 1962 when he founded the National University of Singapore's Department of Paediatrics. He held the post until 1988.

He is credited with forming the School Of Postgraduate Medical Studies in 1965 and initiating a national screening programme to identify newborns with a blood disorder.

After he retired at 65, he continued his work as a senior fellow at NUS while operating a private practice at Thomson Medical Centre until 2003.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.