OncoDaily co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Gevorg Tamamian has been named the recipient of the 2026 Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Leader Award. The prestigious recognition honors his exceptional contributions to the advancement of global health and oncology. The official award ceremony will take place from September 18–21 as part of a joint summit organized by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Global Health Catalyst Awards have been presented since 2015 to leaders whose ideas and initiatives drive significant change in cancer treatment and economic development at both local and global levels. Previous recipients include Nobel laureate Harold Varmus, University of Oxford Professor David Kerr, The Lancet Oncology Editor-in-Chief David Collingridge, and First Lady of Rwanda Jeannette Kagame.
Gevorg Tamamian works to advance international collaboration in global oncology and strengthen healthcare systems. He leads two major pediatric oncology organizations—the Asia branch of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and the POEM Group, which brings together professionals from 28 countries and 110 cancer centers. In addition, Tamamian serves as co-chair of St. Jude’s European Regional Advisory Committee and contributes to shaping medical policy across 13 European countries.
His career combines clinical practice, research, and institution building. At the age of 32, Tamamian took over Armenia’s Center of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, where he transformed fragmented medical services into a unified national institution. Under the new management, the center’s patient survival rate increased to 80%. He also founded the national charity City of Smile, which provides full funding for the diagnosis and treatment of all children and young people living in Armenia.
Dr. Tamamian currently heads the Hematology and Pediatric Oncology Division at Yerevan State Medical University and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Cancer and Crisis. He has received education in seven different countries across Europe, North America, and Asia. Notably, the new Global Health Catalyst award adds to his extensive list of international recognitions, which also includes prestigious awards from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
