Just two days after the announcement that renowned Armenian pediatric oncologist and hematologist Professor Gevorg Tamamyan has been nominated for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), his candidacy has already received support from prominent figures in the international health and scientific communities.
Tamamyan has received messages of support from internationally recognized leaders in global health, oncology and science, as well as professional organizations representing the medical and scientific communities.
Among them is Jordan’s Princess Dina Mired, a prominent global health and cancer-control advocate and former president of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
Congratulating Tamamyan on his nomination, Princess Dina Mired described it as an important recognition of his leadership, experience and commitment to global health.
The Armenian doctor’s candidacy has also received the full backing of Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the renowned South African-American surgeon, scientist, inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who is the owner and executive chairman of the Los Angeles Times.
In a public message, Soon-Shiong particularly highlighted Tamamyan’s commitment to underserved communities and his deep understanding of cancer as a global health challenge, declaring: “You have my 100 percent support.”
Messages of support have also come from international and regional professional organizations, including the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC).
In recent days, hundreds of doctors, scientists, health leaders and representatives of international organizations from different countries have also expressed their support for Tamamyan’s candidacy.
The election of the WHO Director-General is scheduled to take place in 2027.