SINGAPORE - Emeritus Professor Edward Tock Peng Chong, a renowned pathologist and the longest-serving dean of the National University of Singapore's (NUS) medicine faculty, died on Friday (Feb 2) aged 83.

Emeritus Prof Tock served as the dean of the NUS Faculty of Medicine from 1980 to 1994.

He was an emeritus professor with the department of pathology at NUS and an emeritus consultant at the National University Hospital (NUH), which he helped set up in 1985.

Professor John Eu-Li Wong, chief executive of the National University Health System, said in a statement on Sunday: "We are deeply saddened at the loss of a well-loved and respected colleague and friend. Emeritus Professor Edward Tock Peng Chong was a distinguished leader and an outstanding scholar and teacher.

"A visionary leader, Prof Tock had the foresight to adopt the latest technology of the time and the Department of Pathology was among the first in the region to employ immunohistochemistry in diagnosis."

He added that since his retirement, Emeritus Prof Tock remained active as an educator, and "despite being unwell, he conducted a Collaborative Learning Case teaching session on Monday just days before his demise."

Prof Wong said: "We will remember Prof Tock with great respect and admiration as a devoted teacher and caring mentor, an eminent pathologist and friend. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."

Emeritus Prof Tock graduated in medicine from the then-University of Malaya in Singapore in 1959, and began his career in pathology at the then-University of Singapore in 1961.

He later trained at the Hammersmith Hospital, Royal Postgraduate Medical School of London, where he obtained his doctorate in philosophy in pathology.

He was a senior consultant at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) till 1985, when he moved to the NUH to be its senior consultant and to head its pathology department.

He was involved in the relocation of the university's clinical departments from SGH and KK Women's and Children's Hospital to NUH, and was also instrumental in the planning and commissioning of NUH as a new tertiary hospital.

As chairman of the hospital's executive committee in its early years, he helped to formulate hospital policies and practices in clinical care, research and teaching.

Over the years, he held various appointments at several boards and committees, including chairman of the NUH Medical Board.

In 2003, he received the Lee Foundation-National Healthcare Group (NHG) Lifetime Achievement Award and shared about the joy he found in pathology work in a 2003 interview with The Straits Times.

Mr Tan Tee How, who was then NHG's chief executive officer, had described Emeritus Prof Tock as "not only a highly respected pathologist, but also an excellent clinical leader".

He had made significant contributions to the development of the NUS medical faculty and NUH for over 40 years, Mr Tan had said in the report.

Emeritus Prof Tock leaves behind two daughters and two granddaughters.

The wake is being held at the Church of St. Ignatius in King's Road and a funeral mass will take place on Tuesday (Feb 6).

His body will be cremated at the Mandai Crematorium at 3pm.