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Dr. Cheng Li Choon was born in Singapore, and studied at the Anglo-Chinese Primary and Secondary Schools. He subsequently went abroad and completed his ‘O’ and ’A’ levels at the Bootham School in York, United Kingdom. Being the son of an eminent obstetrician and gynaecologist, he also decided to become a doctor and went on to study Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, graduating in 1990 with MB.BCh, BAO. This was followed by a year of Internship at the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

Li Choon then returned to Singapore to complete his National Service (1991-1993) where he served as a Staff Officer at the SMO (Health Care) Office in the Singapore Armed Forces, a position reserved for outstanding medical officers. He was then selected as a trainee in Surgery at the Department of Surgery, National University Hospital and thus began his training as a surgeon. It was at this time that all of us in the Department of Surgery first met Li Choon. We immediately found him to be very enthusiastic and hardworking, and even though it was early days as far as his surgical training was concerned, he had already developed a keen desire to become a plastic surgeon. He completed his basic surgical training and went on to pass his FRCS(Edin) and FRCS(Ire) examinations with no problems.

Following his success in the surgical fellowship examinations, he was appointed an advanced trainee (Registrar) in the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital and thus began his career as a plastic surgeon. As a fellow colleague we found him to be extremely responsible, hardworking and dedicated to his patients and to his department. He worked tirelessly and never complained. He was a true team player, relating well with all medical, nursing, administrative and research staff and always had time for their problems. He clearly enjoyed his work and his life. As his head, I was watching his progress and development as a plastic surgeon with pride. He was soon to be assigned a research posting in the laboratory, to be followed by a posting to an overseas plastic surgery unit as part of his career development.

Li Choon was a man of many interests and many talents. When he submitted his CV in 1992, he listed among his hobbies and interests “computer graphics, desktop publishing and multimedia, photography.” “I play the drums and electric bass guitar, and have recorded albums with bands in the United Kingdom and Ireland. I am also keenly interested in high fidelity audio. My interests also include French and Italian cooking, classic and sports car maintenance, tennis, water-skiing, scuba diving and horse riding.” By the time I got to know him better in 1996 and 1997, his non-medical interests appeared to narrow down to the Porsche (his favourite car) good food (at the Les Amis Restaurant, his favourite) and the computer (where he even maintained his own website). It was no wonder to us when he married his beloved Simone in 1996 that he chose the date 9th November (as in Porsche 911) and hosted the wedding dinner at the Les Amis Restaurant. He loved Simone dearly and the two were frequently seen in the hospital having meals together or working on Li Choon’s latest project in the Department.

On the early hours of 23 May 1997 he suddenly left us. The news was shocking and unbelievable and we were all stunned. This young surgeon, so full of promise and so well liked and loved by all, was no longer with us. Words of praise began to pour in from his colleagues, friends and patients. Even his family members and others who knew him well were unaware that he had made such a strong impact on the lives of so many with his kindness and his generosity.