Following Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s recent announcement of his candidacy for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), colleagues, organizations, and mentees from across the healthcare community shared messages of support and excitement regarding his candidacy.
Dr Shushan Hovsepyan, Candidate for the UICC Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term and Senior Vice President of OncoDaily, congratulated Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan on LinkedIn:
“I cannot imagine anyone who deserves this role more than Professor Gevorg Tamamyan !
A true role model for so many of us — someone who dreams big, refuses to believe in the impossible, and always shoots for the moon!
And as he always says: this is just the beginning.
Proud Proud Proud!!!”
About Dr Shushan Hovsepyan
Dr Shushan Hovsepyan is a paediatric oncologist and global oncology leader with clinical and research experience across different countries. Dr. Hovsepyan is Senior Vice President of OncoDaily and Co-Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily Medical Journal. She has been named a candidate for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term. She is Co-Chair of the SIOP Global Health Network Research and Innovation Working Group, Innovation and Development Director at the Immune Oncology Research Institute, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology at Yerevan State Medical University, and Co-Lead of the European Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group Rhabdoid Tumour Working Group. She also serves on the ASCO Annual Meeting Scientific Programme Committee for Paediatric Oncology.
She has been actively involved in global oncology, research capacity building, education, mentorship, and international collaboration, with a particular focus on paediatric oncology, rare tumours, research disparities, and cancer care in resource-limited settings. She also served as Co-Convenor of Global OncoThon and has received the Global Women in Healthcare Rising Star Award and the Young SIOP Rising Star Award.
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