Global oncology voices continue to recognize Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for WHO Director-General.
Knarik Arakelyan, Chief of Staff at OncoDaily, shared her personal experience of his leadership and the impact he has had on the people around him:
“I have known Gevorg Tamamyan for at least six years, and we have worked closely together for the past three. During that time, I have come to understand one thing about him: he simply does not believe in ՛impossible.՛
Our first collaboration began with his initiative to represent Armenia at ASCO with its own booth. While working on the branding, Gevorg kept saying: ՛It has to be unique. It has to be Armenian. And it has to make people stop.՛
That was my first glimpse into the way he thinks. For Gevorg, it is never enough for Armenia simply to be present. He wants Armenia to be seen, remembered, and respected.
The following year, internationally renowned scientists and oncology leaders from the United States, Spain, Italy, India, and other countries came to speak at the Armenian Oncology Congress—many through the relationships Gevorg had built over the years. He was building bridges between Armenia and the world.
Later, we discussed another ambitious initiative: creating an MRI service in Armenia at an international level. But his vision went beyond technology. He wanted Armenian specialists to develop scientifically, conduct research, and stand alongside the world’s leading experts.
And somewhere along the way, I became part of that story too.
Gevorg invited me to join CancerWorld as Managing Editor, later trusted me to lead OncoDaily TV, and eventually invited me to become Chief of Staff of OncoDaily.
That experience taught me perhaps the most important thing about his leadership:
Gevorg does not only build projects and organizations. He builds people.
He sees potential in people, sometimes before they see it themselves. He challenges you, trusts you, pushes you beyond what you thought you could do and believes in you, sometimes more than you believe in yourself.
For Gevorg, impossible is not a conclusion. It is usually where the work begins.
And having experienced his leadership myself, I believe the qualities I have seen in him—bringing people together, believing in their potential, and turning ambitious ideas into action—are qualities that can serve any institution entrusted with improving health around the world.”
About Knarik Arakelyan
Knarik Arakelyan is Chief of Staff at OncoDaily, where she also leads OncoDaily TV. Alongside her work at OncoDaily, she holds roles as Managing Editor at CancerWorld, PR and Communications Officer at EMERTÉ Clinic, and Media and Communications Officer at Global to Local.
Her extensive experience in healthcare communications includes serving as Head of the PR and Development Department at the National Center of Oncology of Armenia, Head of PR and Communications at CardioLab Armenia, and Media Relations Specialist at the Radioisotope Production Center. Earlier in her communications career, she worked as a Media Relations Specialist for Bridge of Hope NGO and as a Public Relations Specialist within the Administration of the President of Armenia.
In academia, she serves as a Guest Lecturer at both the Yerevan Branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Yerevan State Theatre and Film Institute.
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