Sister Deirdre "Dede" Byrne, POSC, is an American Catholic religious sister, missionary, and retired U.S. Army Colonel who serves as the superior of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Washington, D.C. She is a double board-certified surgeon specializing in family medicine and general surgery, recognized for her humanitarian work in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Sudan, and as a prominent pro-life advocate.

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Sister has become a tireless advocate for the cause of life and especially now for the elderly at the moment of great need - the end of life.  She speaks courageously - with charity AND clarity - to oppose the movement toward euthanasia and the perversely named - "Medical Assistance in Dying" movement in the US and abroad. 

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Watch the documentary movie "No Mercy" and visit SISTERBURLE.COM to learn more about her work and this topic.

 

Born in McLean, Virginia, and a graduate of Virginia Tech and Georgetown University School of Medicine, she followed her thoracic surgeon father into medicine.  Her distinguished career includes serving on active duty and as a reservist, where she performed surgery in Egypt, Kenya, Haiti, and Iraq.  Notably, she ministered at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, and was designated the "Mother Teresa of D.C." for her extensive free clinic work with the uninsured and refugees. 

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Her life story was chronicled in the 2024 biography Sister, Soldier, Surgeon by Leisa Marie Carzon.  She remains an active speaker, recently serving as the 2025 Commencement Speaker for Benedictine College, and continues to lead pro-bono medical services while advocating for conscience protections for medical professionals.