Manette le Grange, Executive Director of ACT for Children, congratulates Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan on his nomination for Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Manette le Grange shared her thoughts on the announcement:
“A remarkable nomination from the land of remarkable diamonds.
I am immensely proud to see Professor Gevorg Tamamyan nominated for Director-General of the World Health Organization.
I have had the privilege of working closely with Gevorg in pediatric oncology, and what has always struck me is that his commitment to health equity is not theoretical. He understands what inequity looks like at the bedside.
He has worked across countries and health systems where resources are constrained, where access to essential and innovative medicines cannot be taken for granted, and where the place a child is born can still profoundly influence whether that child survives cancer.
Gevorg also understands something equally important: meaningful change in global health is built through collaboration.
He has an extraordinary ability to bring people together across countries, institutions, professions and cultures, and to turn those relationships into practical action for patients.
At a time when WHO must respond to enormous global challenges while remaining connected to the realities faced by healthcare professionals and patients on the ground, voices shaped by these realities matter.
For those of us working to close the unacceptable survival gap for children with cancer, it is particularly meaningful to see a pediatric oncologist and passionate advocate for equitable access to care step forward for global health leadership.
Congratulations, Gevorg, on this remarkable nomination.”
About Health Equity Program Director Manette le Grange
Manette le Grange serves as Executive Director of ACT 4 Children, where she builds global partnerships to expand access to innovative pediatric cancer therapies in under-resourced settings, supporting children with cancer across multiple developing countries.
She also led the development of POLARIS, a digital platform created in collaboration with the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) to support families navigating complex pediatric leukemia treatment pathways.
Previously, she spent years at the global pharmaceutical company Servier, serving as Health Equity Program Director for Childhood Cancer Medicines. There, she helped transform corporate social responsibility from traditional charitable giving into systemic action, developing sustainable models to expand access to essential medicines for underserved populations.
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.
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