Armenian Doctor Gevorg Tamamyan Enters Race to Lead WHO, Gains Global Backing

International health leaders and major cancer organizations are backing Armenian pediatric oncologist Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan as he begins his campaign to become the next director-general of the World Health Organization.

Tamamyan was nominated by Botswana for the WHO’s top post, an unusual cross-regional nomination that puts the Armenian physician among the publicly declared candidates seeking to lead the United Nations health agency.

The nomination has drawn support from figures in global health and oncology. Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, a longtime cancer-control advocate and former president of the Union for International Cancer Control, congratulated Tamamyan, calling the nomination a recognition of his leadership and commitment to global health.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the South African-born American surgeon, scientist and entrepreneur who owns the Los Angeles Times, has also publicly backed him. Soon-Shiong pointed to Tamamyan’s work with underserved communities and his understanding of the growing global burden of cancer.

“You have my vote 100 percent!” Soon-Shiong wrote.

Tamamyan has also received backing from the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, or SIOP, where he serves as president of its Asia branch. The organization praised his years of advocacy for children with cancer. The African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer has expressed support, according to reports announcing the endorsements.

Tamamyan graduated from Yerevan State Medical University in 2010. He later earned a master’s degree in advanced oncology from Germany’s University of Ulm and a Ph.D. in oncology from Yerevan State Medical University. He also holds a Doctor of Medical Sciences degree.

His training has taken him to cancer centers and research institutions in Europe, Asia and the United States, including St. Anna Children’s Hospital in Vienna, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. He also completed postgraduate programs in cancer research and global health at Harvard.

In Armenia, Tamamyan has headed the Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center since 2019. That same year, he became chairman of Yerevan State Medical University’s Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology; he was appointed a professor in 2021.

He co-founded the City of Smile Charitable Foundation, which helps cover treatment and related care for children with cancer and blood disorders in Armenia. He also co-founded OncoDaily, an oncology news platform where he serves as editor-in-chief.

Beyond his role with SIOP Asia, Tamamyan is president of the POEM Group, a network connecting pediatric cancer centers, and co-chair of the St. Jude EURO Regional Advisory Committee. His honors include awards from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and, in 2026, recognition for global oncology leadership.

Tamamyan has framed his candidacy around a principle that has guided his cancer-care work: Where a person lives should not determine their chance of survival.

His nomination by Botswana sets his candidacy apart from contenders put forward by their home countries. The full field is expected to become public after the WHO completes its nomination process. Member states will choose the next director-general in 2027.

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