Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for WHO Director-General continues to gain support from the global health and oncology community. Organizations including SIOP, AORTIC, Childhood Cancer International, the Global Health Delivery Project at Harvard University and the China Anti-Cancer Association have publicly voiced their endorsement, along with many other national and international groups.
Most recently, ALPHOG and HOPE4Kids Albania have joined them, sharing a letter of support for his candidacy.
“ALPHOG and HOPE4Kids Albania organizations working to improve care and outcomes for children with cancer and blood disorders in Albania, wish to express our strong support for Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization.
We write not only as partners in the fight against childhood cancer, but also with profound gratitude and a deep sense of moral responsibility for everything Dr. Tamamyan has done for us. By coming to Albania and engaging directly with our teams, he gave us something invaluable: encouragement, renewed confidence, and the belief that even with limited resources, we can build something exceptional for children with cancer.
His trust in our people and our potential helped us look beyond the constraints we face. He encouraged us to aim higher, to think ambitiously, and to believe that Albania can develop a center of excellence in pediatric onco-hematology. He helped open doors to international expertise, collaboration, research, and professional networks that had once seemed out of reach. His support has been tireless, generous, and deeply meaningful.
Inspired by this vision, we have worked toward concrete goals: developing a center of excellence in pediatric onco-hematology, implementing a master’s-level educational program in pediatric onco-hematology, strengthening research capacity, and building a sustainable network connecting professionals and institutions in Albania with the wider international community. These ambitions are not simply institutional projects; they represent better care, greater opportunity, and renewed hope for children and families.
Dr. Tamamyan’s contribution to our work has gone far beyond technical advice. He has helped strengthen our confidence and determination, reminding us that geography and limited resources should never determine the quality of care a child can receive. For us, supporting his candidacy is therefore more than a professional endorsement. It is a moral commitment to recognize the solidarity, leadership, and unwavering support he has shown our community.
He places the needs and dignity of children at the center of every effort to improve cancer care. He brings people, institutions, and countries together, turning collaboration into practical opportunities for education, research, and better services.
Through his encouragement and trust, he has helped us see that our limited resources do not have to limit our ambition or our ability to make meaningful progress.
Together for every child.
We believe that Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan would bring to the leadership of WHO a rare combination of frontline clinical experience, international collaboration, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to equity. His candidacy represents the hope that global health leadership can remain closely connected to the realities faced by children, families, and healthcare teams in countries with limited resources.
For all that he has done for us, for the confidence he has inspired, and for the doors he has opened, we offer our sincere and heartfelt support for his candidacy. We would welcome the opportunity to continue working with WHO and its partners to advance the global childhood cancer agenda and strengthen pediatric onco-hematology services in Albania and beyond.”
Responding to the support from ALPHOG and HOPE4Kids Albania, Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan wrote:
“Thank you so much for your trust and support, my dear friends in Albania. As you well said, together for every child. Geography must not decide who lives.”
About ALPHOG and HOPE4Kids Albania
The Albanian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Group (ALPHOG) is Albania’s national professional organization for pediatric oncology and hematology, based at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center in Tirana, and a member of SIOPE (European Society for Paediatric Oncology).
Founded by parents, medical professionals, and volunteers, Hope 4 Kids Albania is a non-profit foundation working to advance pediatric oncology care across the country and align national services with European standards. With guidance and support from international partners, including SIOP International, SIOPE, the Princess Máxima Center, and the St. Jude Global Alliance, the foundation improves hospital infrastructure, expands treatment access, supports research, and assists children with cancer and their families.
About Dr Gevorg Tamamyan
Dr Gevorg Tamamyan, MD, MSc, PhD, DSc, FASCO, is a prospective candidate for the post of Director-General of the World Health Organization, nominated by the Republic of Botswana. He is a global leader in oncology, health systems strengthening, and international health cooperation, recognized for building bridges between countries and advancing equitable cancer care in resource-limited settings.
Dr. Tamamyan is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University and CEO of the Immune Oncology Research Institute (IMMONC).
He is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily, one of the world’s largest oncology media platforms, created to democratize access to reliable, independent, and evidence-based cancer information globally.
Dr. Tamamyan was elected and currently serves as President of two major international pediatric oncology organizations: the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Asia Continental Branch, representing pediatric oncology professionals across Asia, and the Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) Group, uniting 28 countries and 110 cancer centers. He also serves as Co-Chair of the St. Jude EURO Regional Advisory Committee, encompassing 13 European countries.
At the age of 31, Dr. Tamamyan was appointed Head of the Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Armenia, where he led the consolidation of previously fragmented pediatric oncology and hematology services into a single national center. Under his leadership, the Center evolved into a regional reference point, with survival rates reaching up to 80%.
He also co-founded City of Smile, a national pediatric cancer charity that helps ensure universal coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of every child and young adult with cancer in Armenia.
Dr. Tamamyan is Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Cancer and Crisis and an adviser to the Rector of Yerevan State Medical University. He previously served as President of the Harvard Club of Armenia.
Educated and trained across seven countries in Europe, North America, and Asia, his professional journey spans frontline clinical practice, research, academic leadership, national cancer center management, global health diplomacy, and institution building.
He is the recipient of numerous international awards and distinctions, including Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO); ASCO LIFe and IDEA Awards; UICC and IARC Young Leader Awards; the 40 Under 40 in Cancer Award; the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM) Award for Global Oncology Leadership; and the Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Leader Award.
He is married and has two daughters, Charlize and Letizia.
Read more about Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s WHO candidacy:
Dr Gevorg Tamamyan is Nominated as a Candidate for WHO Director-General Position
Watch HRH Princess Dina Mired’s interview with Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan: The Man Who Challenged Cancer Hierarchies