Dr. David J. Vargas, MD, widely known as Dr. V, is a physician-executive and the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Medical Director of Tone & Core, a primary care, aesthetics, and wellness practice serving the Lakewood Ranch, Florida community. He is recognized for building high-trust, patient-centered care models that combine clinical excellence with compassionate, values-driven leadership.

Dr. Vargas brings a broad and distinguished background across military medicine, large academic health systems, urgent care leadership, and private practice. This diverse experience informs his ability to design healthcare environments that are both clinically rigorous and operationally efficient, while remaining deeply human in their approach. His leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and shared accountability—aligning patients, care teams, and organizations around sustainable, long-term health outcomes.

As Founder, CEO, and Medical Director of Tone & Core, Dr. Vargas leads the strategic and clinical direction of the practice, which was intentionally designed to simplify access to care and restore the physician–patient relationship. Under his leadership, the clinic has expanded beyond traditional primary care to include outpatient procedures and wellness-focused services, improving continuity of care, patient satisfaction, and operational efficiency. He serves as a clinical and operational liaison between providers, staff, and leadership; drives process improvement initiatives; delivers clinically relevant education; and acts as a trusted spokesperson and advocate within the community.

Throughout his career, Dr. Vargas has held senior clinical and leadership roles at organizations including MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa General Medical Group, the VA Healthcare System, Lakewood Ranch Medical Group and TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track. He has provided regional clinical oversight for multiple urgent care clinics, led a provider team for an Urgent Care at Home pilot program, and partnered closely with executive leadership to ensure safe, high-quality care delivery. His leadership responsibilities have included implementing clinical policies and workflows, providing provider education and remediation, and ensuring excellence in documentation, procedures, and billing compliance.

Dr. Vargas has managed multidisciplinary teams of physicians and medical staff, overseen care for tens of thousands of patients, and fostered cultures of accountability, prevention, and “zero harm.” He is board certified in Family Medicine and remains deeply committed to delivering personalized, transparent care that supports the health of body, mind, and spirit.