Leading pediatric oncology organizations continue to voice their support for Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for WHO Director-General.
The Mexican Association of Pediatric Onco-Hematology (AMOHP) has formally endorsed his nomination, highlighting his clinical experience and commitment to equitable childhood cancer care.
“Letter of support from Mexico’s pediatric oncologists for the candidacy of Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan for Director-General of WHO
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Mexican Association of Pediatric Onco-Hematology (AMOHP), which brings together Mexico’s pediatric oncologists and hematologists and the centers that treat children and adolescents with cancer across the country, expresses its full support for the candidacy of Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan, nominated by the Republic of Botswana, for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Mexico diagnoses thousands of children with cancer every year, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most frequent malignancy in our pediatric population. As pediatric oncologists working in a middle-income country, we know first-hand the gap between what medicine can offer and what reaches each patient: late diagnosis, treatment abandonment, shortages of essential medicines and unequal access to precision therapies. For us, the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer is a priority, not a side issue.
Dr. Tamamyan embodies exactly the kind of leadership that gap demands. He is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University; he has led the Asia branch of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP Asia) and the POEM Group, which connects 28 countries and more than one hundred cancer centers; and he chairs the Institute of Cancer and Crisis, devoted to sustaining cancer care in war and emergency settings. He consolidated Armenia’s fragmented pediatric oncology services into a single national center and has worked consistently to bring progress to regions with limited resources. His candidacy has the explicit support of SIOP, of which we are also members.
We especially value three aspects of his career:
- Real frontline clinical experience. He is a physician who still treats patients and understands the decisions made with scarce resources, not only from a desk.
- A proven ability to build networks across countries. His work with POEM, SIOP Asia and the St. Jude regional committees shows he can bring institutions and governments together around shared goals, something Latin America needs to replicate.
- A commitment to equity. His conviction that geography must not decide who lives matches our association’s mission and the reality our patients face.
We regard his cross-regional nomination by Botswana as a sign that his candidacy transcends borders and regions, and that countries of the Global South see in him an ally for a stronger WHO.
For these reasons, the Board of Directors and the members of AMOHP respectfully ask Member States to give the fullest consideration to the candidacy of Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan, and we offer our readiness to work with WHO on the childhood cancer agenda in Mexico and the region.
Sincerely,
Dr. Luis Juárez Villegas
President, Board of Directors 2025–2027
Agrupación Mexicana de Onco-Hematología Pediátrica, A.C.
On behalf of the members of AMOHP.”
About Mexican Association of Pediatric Onco-Hematology
The Mexican Association of Pediatric Onco-Hematology (Agrupación Mexicana de Onco-Hematología Pediátrica, AMOHP) is a leading medical organization in Mexico dedicated to improving outcomes for children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders. The organization operates through three main branches: iAMOHP for collaborative clinical research, eAMOHP for medical education and annual congresses, and tAMOHP for integrating digital tools into clinical practice and research. AMOHP collaborates closely with international organizations, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as well as regional bodies like the Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to bridge care disparities and improve survival rates throughout the region.
Dr. Luis Juárez Villegas serves as President of the Board of Directors of AMOHP. He previously served as Chief of the Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology at Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG) and is a member of the Mexican Society of Oncology and the Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP).
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