The global healthcare community continues to express its support for Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for WHO Director-General.
Martin Harutyunyan, Director of OncoDaily LA, shares his perspective on Tamamyan’s leadership and influence.
“I first met Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan as a medical student, and his calm, confident lecturing style left a lasting impression on me. His approach to teaching oncology shaped my understanding of the field from the very beginning. Over the years, I have watched him become a respected international figure while maintaining the same steadiness, openness, and willingness to help others.
Prof. Tamamyan never dismisses an idea as impossible. Even the most ambitious or complex projects receive his support, thoughtful guidance, and encouragement. Through his experience in both resource-limited settings and highly developed healthcare systems, he has developed a keen ability to identify gaps and work toward practical solutions.
He is also one of the rare leaders who brings people together rather than divides them. Colleagues respect him, collaborators seek his perspective, and people genuinely enjoy working with him. His combination of clinical expertise, global perspective, sound judgment, and genuine respect for others makes him an outstanding candidate for World Health Organization Director-General.”
About Martin Harutyunyan
Martin Harutyunyan is a medical oncologist who currently leads the Los Angeles Hub of OncoDaily. He previously served as medical coordinator of the Union of Armenian Doctors NGO and later working as a clinical researcher at the City of Smile charitable foundation. There, he translated and adapted pediatric cancer treatment protocols for Armenia and helped implement national projects for pediatric and AYA cancer care.
He represented Armenia at international congresses as medical coordinator of the Armenian Association of Hematology and Oncology, and served on the organizing committees of the ESOASCO Masterclass, ASCO-MCMC course, and SIOP Asia conferences.
As an attending physician focused on advanced cancer and geriatric patients, he established Armenia’s first palliative and supportive care unit, where he served as the head of the Palliative Medicine Service.
He has conducted interviews at major oncology congresses such as ASCO, ESMO, MASCC and SIO. He also hosts The Comfort Corner, a palliative care series on OncoDaily. Martin has a strong connection with MASCC, covering conferences, translating the Supportive Care 2030 Movement ambition statements into Armenian and Russian.
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