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.