Richard Villar

Richard Villar qualified in medicine at St. Thomas’s Hospital in London before joining the military as the Regimental Medical Officer to the Special Air Service (SAS). He gained extensive experience in field operations, providing medical care to soldiers and civilians. His career progressed to include roles in disaster response. Villar has consistently applied his medical skills and leadership in challenging environments globally.

Villar developed a special interest in the surgery of conflict and disaster. For over a decade, he served as a Team Leader for the UK’s Disaster Response, leading surgical teams in immediate aftermaths of earthquakes in Kashmir, Java, Haiti, and the Philippines. He also worked in conflict zones such as Libya, Ethiopia, Lebanon, and Gaza, including during the Palestinian Great March of Return. His involvement extended to working with the World Health Organization across its Eastern Mediterranean Region, covering countries like Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sudan.

Beyond direct medical work, Villar has actively contributed to medical literature and public understanding. He has authored several books, including “Knife Edge: Life as a Special Forces Surgeon,” “Winged Scalpel: A Surgeon at the Frontline of Disaster,” and “Never a Straight Line: Travels through Chile and Bolivia.” He has also written for publications such as The Spectator, The Telegraph, the Evening Standard, and The Independent. His experiences managing teams in high-pressure, hazardous situations form a significant part of his professional narrative, informing his contributions to discussions on leadership and resilience.