ARNSF learns about medical volunteers in conflict zones and disasters

The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on Nov. 20, 2025, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City. The event featured a presentation by Dr. Jeff Colyer, a reconstructive plastic surgeon in Kansas City, about his experiences as a medical volunteer in conflict zones and disasters around the world.

ARNSF program leader Bob Ulin kicked off the Forum welcoming the ARNSF members and their guests. After lunch, he introduced Colyer. Colyer’s presentation was a rundown of the many lessons learned about medical operations in 25 war zones around the world as a member of the International Medical Corps.

(Top photo and above) Dr. Jeff Colyer, a reconstructive plastic surgeon in Kansas City, conducts a presentation and discussion about his experiences as a medical volunteer in conflict zones and disasters around the world during the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event at the Carriage Club in Kansas City on Nov. 20, 2025.

Colyer began by speaking about the effects of war, terrorism, civil strife and genocide on the health care systems in the affected countries and how their triage systems, if ever present, were not effective, because the deluge of injuries and sickness overwhelmed the available specialists. He said that most times medical support was provided with limited facilities such as caves, dug-ins, and tents. As a member of the International Medical Corps, Colyer said the role of international medical providers was to commit to the affected zones for the long term, get their local systems running again and conduct training while providing logistical support and trying to improve the level of technology. Surprisingly, he said the last priority, while still a priority, is to provide direct patient care. The point was that the care provided had to be sustainable.

Colyer walked the Forum members and their guests through a myriad of conflicts and disasters – Afghanistan, Somalia, the Balkans, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Nairobi, Dnipro, Jerusalem, Armenia, Libya, Ukraine and even New York City on 9-11. Each had their own challenges he spoke to, but he made a special point of speaking to the modern style war being conducted in the Ukraine. He said the types of complex wounds, delays of getting soldiers to care, and how many of the Ukrainian soldiers were older, were big factors in how modern war is worse than one might think.

Colyer concluded with what he called “paint the walls,” a metaphor for getting something started, then slowly it will entice the locals to join in and slowly start taking control of their lives again, moving from chaos to resolve. When asked during the Q&A session how people in Kansas City, so far removed from the places he had spoke about, could help, Colyer simply said, “$25 dollars goes a long way.” He said even the smallest of cash gifts are helpful to all the organizations such as the International Medical Corps trying to perform these missions.

After the presentation and a question and answer period, Ulin presented Colyer with a small gift in appreciation for his time with the Forum. Ulin also provided information about future ARNSF gatherings.

For more photos see the CGSC Foundation Flickr album

Dr. Jeff Colyer is a reconstructive plastic surgeon in Kansas City and a former assistant professor at Georgetown, KU Med, and the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics/premed at Georgetown, a masters in international relations at Cambridge, his medical degree from Kansas University and has performed in several residencies and fellowships. His work has been featured on 60 Minutes, the Wall Street Journal, People, Journal of the American Medical Association, and numerous other media spots. He was the 47th governor of Kansas and the longest serving lieutenant governor in Kansas history.

The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum (ARNSF) is led by the CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center and is an exclusive professional information sharing and networking forum for those interested in keeping abreast of relevant information about national security issues.

Members of the Forum and their guests meet periodically at guest speaker events in downtown Kansas City. National and regional guest speakers representing all elements of national power (Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic) highlight the meetings. The Forum is nonpartisan, but elected government officials may present from time to time.

The Forum is named after Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter, Founding Chairman of the CGSC Foundation, and Mr. Landon Rowland, the Foundation’s first major donor who was well-known in Kansas City for his keen interest in national security issues and his leadership in business and philanthropy.

ARNSF events are only open to ARNSF members and their guests. If you are not a member but are interested in joining, contact the CGSC Foundation.

The 2025 Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is sponsored by: