Upon his announcement about being nominated as a candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) position, Dr Gevorg Tamamyan, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University and Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily, shared a heartwarming message of gratitude to his wife and best friend featured below.
“Since the news of my candidacy for Director-General of the World Health Organization became public, I have received so many messages of encouragement and kindness from around the world.
Thank you. For your words, your trust, and for believing in me.
But yesterday, I received one message that made me rethink how I want to tell the story of this campaign.
It was from my wife, Lilya.
My biggest believer, my strongest supporter, and the love of my life.
And it reminded me of something she told me just a few days ago.
We were getting ready, and once again I was wearing one of those dark, very serious ties. I told her:
‘Lilya, I don’t like these ties. This is not me. I like something more stylish, more my style. And my happy socks! And my red sneakers…’
She looked at me and said:
‘Then stop. Just be yourself.’
Just be yourself.
Maybe that is exactly how I should approach this journey.
If I am asking the world to trust me with such an important responsibility, people should know who I am. Not only what I think about healthcare, WHO, financing, access or global health.
But how I think. What shaped me. Who shaped me. What I believe in. What makes me laugh, what makes me angry, what gives me hope.
So during this journey, I am going to tell stories.
And the first one had to be about Lilya.
We met during the first days of medical school and studied together. We have been very close friends ever since. Many years later, I finally realized what apparently should have been obvious much earlier: we should spend our lives together and be the closest friends.
Today, Lilya is an ophthalmologist and a deeply caring doctor who genuinely loves her patients and her work. She is a wonderful mother to our two children and, most importantly, an extraordinary human being.
She also has an incredible talent for creating beauty around her. Give her an empty room, a dinner, an event – anything – and somehow she transforms it. She loves bringing people together and making every detail beautiful. Perhaps because she sees beauty everywhere. And perhaps because she is so beautiful herself.
Being my wife is probably not easy.
I travel too much. Even when I am home, my mind is often somewhere else – thinking about the next idea, the next project, the next thing that needs to be done.
And she is the person who brings me back.
Back to life. Back to enjoying the moment.
And sometimes, back to being myself – with the ties I actually like, my colorful socks, and, yes, my red sneakers.
Thank you, Lilya, for your love, your patience, your support – and for reminding me to just be myself.
The best is yet to come.
Thank you, my love.
P.S. Women are great leaders. And great doers.
I am really happy to see three incredible women also running for this job: Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari, Hanan H. Balkhy, Maria Neira.
So, gentlemen, it looks like it is going to be tough for us. Hans Kluge, Budi Sadikin.”
Read the full announcement below: Dr Gevorg Tamamyan is Nominated as a Candidate for WHO Director-General Position
Watch HRH Princess Dina Mired’s interview with Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan: Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan: The Man Who Challenged Cancer Hierarchies
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.”