Conference Speakers

Sister Deirdre “Dede” Byrne is a Catholic nun, retired U.S. Army colonel, and surgeon known as the “Mother Teresa of D.C.”

A member of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts, she served as a missionary and doctor, providing medical care in war-torn regions like Afghanistan and Sudan, and operates a clinic for the uninsured in Washington, D.C..

Military and Medical Career

• Education: She graduated from Virginia Tech and Georgetown School of Medicine.
• Army Service: Joined the Army in 1978, serving 29 years and retiring as a colonel in 2009.
• Deployments: Deployed three times as a surgeon, including to Afghanistan.
• Specialties: Board-certified in both family medicine and general surgery.
• 9/11 Response: Provided aid at Ground Zero in New York.

Religious Life and Mission

• Vocation: Professed final vows with the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts in 2011.
• Ministry: She runs a clinic in the basement of her Washington, D.C., convent, serving the poor, uninsured, and marginalized.
• Missionary Work: Has provided medical care in Haiti, Kenya, Sudan, and Iraq.
• Pro-Life Advocacy: Known for advocating for the unborn, including administering abortion pill reversals.

Sister Dede is recognized for her unique combination of roles as a soldier, surgeon, and nun. She is the sister of Bishop William Byrne.

(Listed in order of appearance)
Full names, credentials and titles as well as speaker topics are available on the Schedule Page.