Dr Gevorg Tamamyan, Candidate for WHO Director-General, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University and Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily, addressed conversations of tension among the candidates, describing his interactions with fellow candidates as positive, open and cooperative. He also shared his vision for strengthening WHO through shared accountability, empowered regional leadership and collaboration toward a common mission.
“When I was starting this campaign, different people told me there would be a lot of tension between the candidates. I was almost warned it would be a ‘Mortal Kombat‘ kind of fight.
But, my dear friends, I must disappoint you. Nothing even close.
So far, I have met all the candidates except Dr. Li, and I am sure meeting her will be just as positive. Everyone has been extremely nice, open and cooperative. Honestly, that is how I see the World Health Organization: an organization where people support each other.
Every candidate has an outstanding track record. Running alongside them is an honor, now also a pleasure, and a great opportunity to learn.
Recently, I have had several discussions about the role of Regional Directors.
People with great experience have argued that the Constitution should be changed so the Director-General appoints them, because leadership chosen by the regions gives Regional Directors too much independent power and makes delivery harder to coordinate.
At first, from a business perspective, it sounded reasonable. But I have thought about it a lot, and I believe there is something beautiful about the current structure. Strong regions, with leadership chosen by countries, make the whole organization stronger. The stronger our countries and regions are, the stronger our headquarters can be. That is what I believe, and that is how I have always tried to lead.
The concern behind the proposal is real, though, and it deserves a real answer. The answer is not more control from Geneva. It is shared accountability: one results framework that the Director-General and all six Regional Directors sign together, with progress reported openly to Member States. Give people the authority to deliver, then hold each other accountable for results.
Some see tension when Regional Directors run for Director-General. But why shouldn’t they?
If an associate professor wants to become a professor, isn’t that good? If a professor wants to chair the department, isn’t that great? We should welcome people who want to take on greater responsibility. It should never be a reason for tension between headquarters and regions. Just the opposite.
For me, my teams’ achievements have always brought the greatest joy. At SIOP Asia, we created around 45 country ambassador roles in two years. To me, that meant more colleagues with the opportunity to lead, bring people together and help our community grow. Their success is our success. That is the culture I want us to strengthen at WHO.
Of course, we will not agree on everything. But we must be able to work together.
Stronger Regional Directors and stronger country representatives mean a stronger headquarters and a stronger WHO.
If the Director-General cannot unite six Regional Directors around our shared mission, how can they unite all the Member States?”
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