Accomplishments

In 1990, Dr. Vargas achieved his ultimate goal and successfully completed his
Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in Higher Education Administration from The
Union Institute, Graduate College in Cincinnati, Ohio. His doctoral
preparation and curriculum focused on four components: Law, Ethics, Politics and
Economics of Higher Education. He has served and continues to serve as
consultant for several academic institutions in the United States and
internationally on curriculum and program design.

In 1993, while living in Florida and chairing an entry-level Master’s Degree
Program in Physical Therapy, Dr. Luis G. Vargas discovered a passion for a new
emerging area of clinical specialization: aquatic rehabilitation. He pursued
specialized training in Watsu, Wassertanzen, Bad Ragaz and Halliwick. Aquatic
Rehabilitation became his vocation and he focused his work on the study and
analysis of these multidisciplinary aquatic therapy interventions, particularly
Watsu, Wassertanzen and Ai Chi. He founded with the collaboration of colleague,
Richard Conrey, PT, a company called VAR-CON Seminars (a merging of both of
their names) which featured a training program in three phases for aquatic
rehabilitation clinicians. This company was dissolved years later when he accepted
an academic administrative position in Ohio.

In August 2004, Dr. Vargas received the highest honor in the Aquatic Therapy and
Rehabilitation Industry: the Aquatic Therapy Professional of the Year Award. This
honor was bestowed upon him by the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute
at the 2004 Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada. From March 2005 to February 2006,
upon appointment, Dr. Vargas served as a member of the Board of Directors for
ICATRIC, the International Council on Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation
Industry Certification. In that capacity he was in charge of overseeing the areas of
international affairs, ethics and certification exam revision and restructuring.