Amalya Sargsyan, Medical Oncologist at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, Ministry of Health of Armenia, Head of Sarcoma Service at D’clinic and VP Research and Intelligence of OncoDaily, has shared her excitement over her mentor’s – Dr Gevorg Tamamyan’s, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University and Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily, recent nomination as a candidate for WHO Director-General.
Below is featured her message shared on LinkedIn:
“Gevorg Tamamyan – candidate for World Health Organization Director-General!
Some moments are simply too special not to share.
Incredibly proud to see our teacher, leader and mentor, Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan, nominated by Botswana as a candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organization.
He is probably the most visionary person I have ever met. With him, there is rarely a ‘no’ and almost never an ‘impossible.‘ Usually, when the rest of us think an idea is already ambitious enough, his idea starts somewhere far beyond what we considered realistic – and somehow, we end up making it happen.
I have watched him change oncology in Armenia, inspire an entire generation, build programs, systems for research and science, and then take that same energy far beyond our continent.
I sometimes joke that if there were another inhabited planet, he would already have ideas for changing healthcare there too. One planet has never really seemed big enough for his vision.
So incredibly proud of my teacher, our leader, and someone who has taught so many of us to think bigger. What a moment.”
Dr Gevorg Tamamyan is Nominated as a Candidate for WHO Director-General Position
About Dr Amalya Sargsyan
Dr. Amalya Sargsyan, MD, MSc, oncologist, first met Prof. Tamamyan as her very first oncology teacher – and later became one of his mentees. Years later, she is building something of her own: Armenia’s first dedicated sarcoma service, which she leads at D’Clinic, while also leading the Adult Solid Tumor Team at the Immune Oncology Research Institute, caring for adolescents and young adults with cancer at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, and serving as Vice President for Research and Intelligence at OncoDaily.
A recipient of the ASCO Conquer Cancer IDEA Award, ESMO Leadership and Career Development Award, multiple Merit Awards and excellence scholarships, she will soon join the UCL sarcoma team in London. From Prof. Tamamyan being the person who first introduced her to oncology to now building a new field, leading teams, and teaching the next generation herself, her journey reflects perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of his impact: the people he inspires eventually become leaders who create something new themselves.
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 32, 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.
Watch HRH Princess Dina Mired’s interview with Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan: The Man Who Challenged Cancer Hierarchies