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, has welcomed Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, President of UICC, to the International Advisory Board of his campaign for WHO Director-General:
“Honored to announce that Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu has kindly agreed to join the International Advisory Board of my campaign for World Health Organization Director-General.
Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu is a global health leader, former First Lady of Kebbi State, Nigeria, a pediatrician, and the founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation.
She does not talk about access. She builds it: screening programs, HPV vaccination, political commitment at the highest level.
She knows what it takes to turn commitments into results, and that is exactly what this campaign is about.
Geography must not decide who lives.
Thank you for your trust, friendship and support, Your Excellency.”
About Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu is the President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She is a Nigerian pediatrician and global health leader with a long-standing commitment to women’s health and cancer care.
Recognizing the urgent need for better cancer care in Nigeria, she founded the Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF), which works on cancer awareness, prevention and access to treatment. The foundation has raised more than $2 million to address gaps in cancer care. Its programs have included HPV vaccination, cervical and breast cancer screening, and patient navigation. She is also the founder of Medicaid Radio-Diagnostics & Clinics in Abuja and chairs First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC).
In Nigeria, she served as Senior Advisor on Women’s Health and Cancer Advocacy to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare. She is the former First Lady of Kebbi State.
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