Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, a South-African-American renowned surgeon and philanthropist, inventor of Abraxane, shared his complete support to Dr Gevorg Tamamyan, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University and Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily, for his candidacy as the Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO).
Congratulations Gevorg. Your commitment to the underserved and your deep insight to the concern of the next non infectious pandemic of cancer will strengthen the WHO immensely. You have my vote 100percent!
About Dr Patrick Soon Shiong
Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong is a surgeon, scientist, inventor, and biotechnology entrepreneur of South African-American origin. He is the Founder and Chairman of NantWorks and ImmunityBio, and Executive Chairman of the Los Angeles Times. Dr. Soon-Shiong is the inventor of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), a nanoparticle-based chemotherapy and a landmark advance in translational oncology. As a surgeon, he is one of the very first to perform encapsulated human islet cell transplant, pioneering cellular therapies for diabetes. He is also an adjunct Professor of Surgery at UCLA.
Dr. Soon-Shiong is also the Chairman of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation and the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine, supporting biomedical research and global health innovation. His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, and the Franklin Institute Award.
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.
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