Colleagues and collaborators continue to share personal perspectives on Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for WHO Director-General.
Narine Mnatsakanyan, Head of Dermatology & Skin Care Department and Business Development at Asteria Pharmaceutical Company, also voiced her support:
‘Geography must not decide who lives.’
“With these words, Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan announced his candidacy for Director-General of the World Health Organization. I would like to say why I support him with my whole heart.
There are periods in life that change us forever. After losing my husband to colon cancer, I wanted to stand alongside the people who fight this disease every day. That is how I joined Dr. Tamamyan’s team to work on an international congress of doctors from every continent: specialists who treat colon cancer, and also those who shape decisions on advanced treatment methods and research new medications. That was a fascinating experience for me to work with worldwide names in oncology and the very close friends of Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan.
His schedule never stopped: flights, meetings, discussions, speeches. Yet every speech was excellent, and his calm never changed. I have rarely seen anyone carry so much so gracefully.
He stayed calm, HUMBLE and HUMANE the whole time, even while working closely with Leading figures of World Oncology. I saw his respect for every member of his team. I saw how he cares for patients with colon cancer, so that none of them feels ignored or unimportant. And on a project we worked on together, I saw the thinking without boundaries, huge creativity and a refusal to give up.
You cannot learn this at a University. It is character: to help, to support, to encourage, to lead.
I truly believe that Dr. Tamamyan has a calling to lead healthcare institutions, not for one country but for all nations.
The world needs a leader who is, above all, a human being, with a strong and consistent character.
Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan is a pediatric oncologist and Professor at Yerevan State Medical University, nominated by the Government of Botswana. I strongly support his candidacy, and I call on the Member States of the World Health Organization to give him their full consideration and their vote.”
About Narine Mnatsakanyan
Narine Mnatsakanyan is a patient advocate who lost her husband to colorectal cancer, and she serves as Head of Department at Asteria Pharmaceutical Company in Yerevan, Armenia. Her advocacy work led her to collaborate with Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan on global cancer initiatives at OncoDaily.
Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Corporate Business Development at PharmaTech CJSC Armenia, and spent over seven years at Astellas Pharma as a Product Manager. Earlier in her career, she worked at Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi.
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