Honoring a Vero Beach Legend

Dear Vero Beach Pediatrics Families,

After 50 years of caring for the children of Vero Beach, our beloved Dr. Asoka Wijetilleke—known to most simply as Dr. Wije—has retired. When Dr. Wije opened his pediatric practice, much of Vero Beach as we know it today did not yet exist. He has spent the last five decades quietly shaping what childhood healthcare looks like in this town—one family, one baby, and one reassuring phone call at a time.

To understand what Dr. Wije means to this community, you must understand Vero. This is a town built on word of mouth and reputations earned over decades. Long before reviews lived on the internet, parents passed his name from one to the next, allowing his care to span in some cases three generations of the same family. For many families, he was there during life’s most joyful moments and its most difficult. Stories of his compassion, dedication, and calm presence have been shared throughout the community for years.

Many remember how Dr. Wije was at the hospital the day a new baby arrived—meeting the family and making sure there was a plan in place before anyone walked out the door. For 50 years, he gave up one evening a month to lead prenatal classes for expectant parents, asking for nothing in return. Families remember that Dr. Wije knew every parent and child by name, often calling the children “Angel” the moment they walked through the door, or parents “mommy” or “daddy.” Many recall the reassurance offered during sleepless nights or the follow-up phone call the day after an office visit to check on a sick child. He caught rare illnesses early and performed procedures himself in an era when pediatricians still did; there are countless stories where his quick thinking and expertise truly saved lives.

Dr. Wije trained at the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka and completed his residency at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey, where he was appointed Chief Resident, before bringing his talents to a small Florida town that quickly became home for him and his late wife, Arundathi. He has been named a “Best Pediatrician,” ranked in the top 1% nationally for patient experience, and received the Sunrise Rotary Volunteer of the Year award. For half a century, he has treated his practice not as a job, but as a calling—providing care to tens of thousands of patients. The children of Vero Beach are better for it.

Please join us in wishing Dr. Wije a beautiful retirement. He looks forward to spending more time with his three children and his two grandsons—and in his spare time, you will likely find him on the tennis court!