Vanig founded Spectrum Medical in 1997 to fill a critical gap in HIV care and welcoming healthcare for LGBTQ+ Arizonans
PHOENIX (May 11, 2026) – Spectrum Medical Care Center, a nonprofit healthcare provider serving Arizona’s LGBTQ+ community, announced today that founder Dr. Thanes Vanig has been recognized as an honoree for ONE Community’s Spotlight on Success Local Hero Awards.
For nearly three decades, Dr. Vanig has helped build a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system for the LGBTQ+ community in Phoenix. Dr. Vanig founded Spectrum Medical in 1997 after recognizing the urgent need for specialized HIV care and welcoming healthcare spaces for LGBTQ+ patients in Arizona. Today, Spectrum Medical serves over 2,200 patients and offers a wide range of services including primary care, HIV treatment and prevention and sexual health services.
Dr. Vanig has been recognized locally as a cornerstone of Phoenix’s HIV medical community and was instrumental in bringing the City of Phoenix into the global Fast-Track Cities Initiative, which aims to eliminate HIV as a public health threat. He has worked closely with county and state partners to strengthen rapid linkage to care for people newly diagnosed with HIV, including the implementation of the “Red Phone” system in 2022 to ensure patients can begin treatment without delay. Dr. Vanig has also served on expert panels with the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies to discuss HIV prevention and treatment.
“Dr. Vanig is a true pioneer in competent care for the LGBTQ+ community in Phoenix and the state of Arizona and beyond,” said Mark Moeremans, CEO of Spectrum Medical. “Without his vision nearly 30 years ago, countless Arizonans living with HIV would have had nowhere to turn for compassionate care. We are proud to see him recognized as a local hero by ONE Community”
Dr. Vanig is a King’s Scholar from Thailand, one of the country’s highest academic honors. He immigrated to the United States to pursue his education and went on to train at Harvard Medical School. His journey began in modest circumstances in Bangkok and was shaped by significant political upheaval involving his family, experiences that helped forge the resilience and global perspective that have defined his distinguished medical career.
“This recognition belongs to every patient who trusted us with their care and every colleague who believed this work was worth doing,” said Dr. Vanig. “Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ community deserves healthcare where they feel safe and seen. That has always been the mission.”
Dr. Vanig and ONE Community’s Spotlight on Success honorees will be recognized at a special awards luncheon on Oct. 27, 2026. For more information on Spectrum Medical, visit spectrummedicalcare.org
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About Spectrum Medical
Spectrum Medical Care Center is a leading provider of primary care, preventative care, HIV care, PrEP, PEP and STI testing services, and has been meeting the unique healthcare needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the Phoenix area since 1997. Spectrum Medical’s growing team of experienced medical professionals and staff proudly serve all patients with state-of-the-art, competent and compassionate care. They are deeply committed to healthcare equality in the community.
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