Voices from across the international oncology community continue to recognize Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Fleury Nsole Biteghe, Gabon Country Director of the Global Health Catalyst, also shared his support, highlighting the need for leadership grounded in equitable access to healthcare.
“The next WHO Director-General must believe that geography must not decide who lives.
I am proud to support Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan for WHO Director-General. Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan has been officially nominated by Botswana for the top job at the World Health Organization. His candidacy represents something rare in global health leadership: a career built entirely on the frontlines of equitable cancer care in resource-limited settings. His philosophy is simple but radical:
‘Geography must not decide who lives.’
This is not just a slogan for Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan. It is the principle that guided his transformation of Armenia’s national pediatric cancer center, his leadership of pediatric oncology networks across Asia and Europe, and his work as President of the SIOP Asia Continental Branch.
At a time when the WHO faces unprecedented challenges from funding gaps to geopolitical fractures, we need a leader who understands what it means to build health systems from the ground up. Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan has done exactly that. He has shown that locally-led institution building can deliver world-class care, even in the most challenging environments.
His candidacy has already received support from prominent global health figures, including Princess Dina Mired of Jordan and Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, as well as organizations like SIOP, AORTIC and Global Health Catalyst (GHC).
The WHO needs a leader who has walked the walk. Dr Gevorg Tamamyan has.”
About Dr Fleury Nsole Biteghe
Dr Fleury Augustin Nsole Biteghe, PhD, is a biotechnologist, immunotherapist, and Assistant Teaching Professor at Northeastern University. He serves as the Director of Global Health Catalyst (GHC) Gabon, leading international initiatives to expand oncology access, early detection, and biotechnology infrastructure across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Leveraging research experience across Cedars-Sinai, UCT, Rakuten, and Takeda, he bridges cutting-edge oncology technology with resource-limited settings to empower local researchers and advance health equity.
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
