Global oncology leaders continue to express their support for Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan’s candidacy for WHO Director-General.
Wafik El-Deiry, Founding Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University, also shared his endorsement.
“Very pleased to strongly endorse Gevorg Tamamyan as an outstanding global healthcare citizen who I believe will do a great job all around as Director General of the World Health Organization. He has already demonstrated his extremely dynamic personal style along with a firm grasp and communication skills of important issues in healthcare facing different populations around the globe.
Photo taken in Cairo, Egypt on January 22, 2026 at the Breast Gynecological & Immunooncology International Cancer Conference-BGICC meeting hosted by Dr. Hesham El-Ghazaly.”
About Dr Wafik El-Deiry
Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry is the Mencoff Family University Professor of Medical Science and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Brown University, where he previously served as Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center and Associate Dean for Oncologic Sciences. He also serves as Chair of the Worldwide Innovative Network (WIN) Consortium in Cancer Personalized Medicine, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Oncotarget, an American Cancer Society Professor, and Secretary of the Faculty at Brown University.
Dr. El-Deiry has held senior academic and research leadership positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, and Fox Chase Cancer Center. His landmark laboratory discoveries include identifying p21(WAF1) as a p53 target gene and cell-cycle inhibitor, characterizing the TRAIL death receptor DR5 pathway, and developing novel therapeutic compounds such as ONC201 for aggressive brain cancers.
His contributions to cancer research have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Kuwait Prize for cancer research, the Brown University Inventor of the Year Award, and the ISOPT International Precision Oncology Research 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 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