Celebrations from around the world, continue regarding Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s recent candidacy as WHO Director-General.
This time Nigerian Patient Advocate Mukhtasar Malcolm Alkali, Cancer Advocate at Medicaid Cancer Foundation, expressed his full support for Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan in this journey:
Nigerian Patient Advocate Mukhtasar Malcolm Alkali shared in his post:
“When a pediatric oncologist who has spent his career working in resource-limited settings says, ‘Geography must not decide who lives,’ those words carry the weight of lived experience.
Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan, nominated for WHO-DG by the Republic of Botswana, has built his career around pediatric oncology, health equity and expanding access to cancer care in settings where resources are limited.
He is Professor and Chairman of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University, CEO of the Immune Oncology Research Institute, and Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily. He also leads the POEM Group, an international network connecting cancer centres across 28 countries.
What makes his candidacy particularly meaningful to me is that this conversation is not abstract for Nigeria.
Dr. Tamamyan has been to Nigeria, where he met stakeholders across the health sector, including my boss, H.E. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Founder/CEO of MedicaidCFPrograms and President of the UICC. That engagement reflected a shared concern:
How do we detect cancer earlier, expand access to treatment, and ensure that where a child is born does not determine whether that child gets a chance to survive?
Nigeria knows this reality all too well. Across our country, children and families continue to face barriers to timely diagnosis, treatment and specialist care. For those of us working in cancer advocacy, these are not statistics on a page. They are patients, families and communities we encounter every day.
That is why his words resonate with me.
The WHO Director-General has a responsibility to lead the Organization on global health issues, represent WHO internationally, and work with Member States to advance public health. The next Director-General will therefore inherit a responsibility that reaches far beyond any single disease or region.
For me, the central question is whether global health leadership can continue to close the gap between where people live and the care they are able to receive.
Prof. Tamamyan has placed that principle at the centre of his message:
‘Geography must not decide who lives.’
As Nigeria considers its position in this process, I hope our country will give serious consideration to the experience, priorities and vision of every candidate and to what they could mean for countries like ours.
For me personally, having seen Dr. Tamamyan engage with Nigerian cancer advocates and having witnessed his commitment to the challenges faced by patients in resource-limited settings, his candidacy deserves to be part of that conversation.
Because in global health, geography should never be allowed to become destiny.”
About Nigerian Patient Advocate Mukhtasar Malcolm Alkali
Mukhtasar Malcolm Alkali currently serves as the Project Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, and Assistant Coordinator for the SPARC Project and the One-Call-Away initiative at the Medical Cancer Foundation (MCF) In a major milestone for African oncology, Alkali’s insightswere featured in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Cancer 2026: The Future We Choose Together.
Alongside Dr. Zainab, he facilitates international alliances – such as highlighting African infrastructure needs at major events like the China-AfricaAnti-Cancer Summit – to drive resource mobilization, equipment access, and clinical funding directly into Sub-Saharan African communitie.
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