NEWS PROVIDED BY
CatholicVote
July 7, 2026
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — “Sister, Soldier, Surgeon” presents the extraordinary life of Sr. Deirdre (Dede) Byrne, M.D. — U.S. Army colonel, renowned surgeon, and consecrated religious. The roughly 15-minute film premieres today on Zeale.co, CatholicVote’s new culture and lifestyle digital platform.
Sr. Dede ministered at Ground Zero on September 11, served as St. Mother Teresa’s personal physician, deployed to Afghanistan as a combat surgeon during Operation Enduring Freedom, and helped rescue civilians hiding from the Taliban. She regularly travels to war-torn Sudan to provide lifesaving medical care to inhabitants under siege and serves the poor worldwide. She also helps women seeking to reverse their abortion decision. Sister’s work has rescued countless women.
“Sister Dede’s story of service on the battlefield, in the E.R., and on the front lines of the pro-life movement is a clarion call to holiness that has led to countless conversions,” said Kelsey Reinhardt, president and CEO of CatholicVote and president of Zeale Media. “This film tells the story of the kind of hero America truly needs: someone who puts their remarkable talents at the service of both God and country. CatholicVote is proud to have played a role in raising funds for ‘Sister, Soldier, Surgeon,’ which makes today’s release on Zeale all the more exciting for us.”
In 2020, Sister Dede reached a national audience when her pro-life address went viral. The film builds on that moment with reflections from those who have witnessed her impact firsthand: Bishop Joseph Coffey, U.S. Navy chaplain and auxiliary bishop for the Military Services, U.S.A.; Jack Cheasty, U.S. Army physician assistant and military officer; John Stewart, M.D./Ph.D. and childhood neighbor; and Jasmine Pro-Munoz, pre-med student.
Now in its 20th year, CatholicVote is America’s top Catholic advocacy organization, leading the fight for faith, family, and freedom. Its mission is to inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of the Catholic faith in public life. Zeale.co is a new culture project of CatholicVote, bringing high-quality Catholic content, community, and prayer directly into the daily lives of Catholics nationwide. Zeale is the new home for The LOOP, CatholicVote’s flagship daily news roundup. Additional information about Sr. Dede is available at www.sistersoldiersurgeon.com.
Contacts:
Laurie Olsen, lolsen@catholicvote.org, 571-305-3814
Leisa Marie Carzon, producer & author, sistersoldiersurgeon@gmail.com, 248-982-9899
SOURCE CatholicVote