Dr. Dean Byrd received his Ph.D. in psychology from Brigham Young University, a post-doctoral degree in Child and Family Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and Medical College of Virginia, and a post-doctoral degree in Behavioral Medicine from Loyola University, Chicago. He also received both an M.P.H. from the University of Utah, School of Medicine, and an M.B.A. also from the University of Utah. He is a diplomate in Forensic Medicine. Meridian Magazine :Born That Way? Facts and Fiction

He has served as the Director of Clinical Training for LDS Social Services, was a Clinical Professor at Brigham Young University, and is currently a Clinical Professor at the University of Utah, School of Medicine, with appointments in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and in Department of Psychiatry, with an adjunct clinical appointment in the Department of Family Studies, also at the University of Utah. As member of the faculty at the University of Utah, he lectures training medical students about disparities in health care in the population. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association, the Utah Psychological Association where he currently serves on the Governing Board, with professional affiliations in the American Orthopsychiatric Association, where he is a fellow, the American Public Health Association, the American Board of Forensic Examiners and the Prescribing Psychologist Register, a training and credentialing organization for psychologists in psychopharmacology. He is also a former member of the Evergreen Board of Trustees. He is also currently the President of Thrasher Research Fund, a pediatric research granting institution. He was elected in 2007 as the President of NARTH for 2008. NARTH's Annual Conference Celebrates Another Year of Successes Dr. Byrd has had visiting professor appointments in Israel and Poland. He is a diplomate in Forensic Medicine. He also has training in genetics, biochemistry and neurochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, CA.

He is a well known supporter of conversion therapy, and has authored more than 100 publications, including books, peer-reviewed scientific journals, law journals, book chapters, invited commentaries and OpinionEditorials, many of which address issues of human sexuality. In 2002, he presented a paper which describes a technique called gender-affirmative therapy. He states: "The basic premise of gender-affirmative therapy is that social and emotional variables affect gender identity which, in turn, determines sexual orientation. The work of the therapist is to help people understand their gender development. Subsequently, such individuals are able to make choices that are consistent with their value system. The focus of therapy is to help clients fully develop their masculine or feminine identity". He has written several papers with Joseph Nicolosi. One of the largest ones was a survey of 882 people who were undergoing therapy, attending ex-gay groups or ex-gay conferences, 22. 9% reported they had not undergone any changes, 42.7% reported some changes, and 34.3% reported much change in sexual orientation. As a group, they reported large reductions in homosexual thoughts and fantasies and improvements in their psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual well-being. He has promoted his ideas on college campuses, in newspapers, and in several books. He was called as a professional witness to testify on behalf of Andrew McClintock, a Christian magistrate who was forced to resign due to his beliefs on homosexual parents. In 2007, he was asked to chair a symposiumat the APA Convention in San Francisco.

The LDS church does not view homosexual attractions as sinful, but does require its members to abstain from homosexual sex. It does not have an official view on the cause of homosexuality. Byrd has been a prominent in defending and explaining the church's position, as well as promoting his own views. He has written four books aimed at LDS audiences and in 1999, he published When a Loved One Struggles with Same-Sex Attraction in the Ensign, an official magazine of the church. It was the first article published in the church's magazine giving advice on how to love people with homosexual inclinations. He has also been a member of the Evergreen Board of Trustees, an ex-gay organization catering to Latter-day Saints.

He has also given presentations and written several articles for Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research dealing with homosexuality. He has written critically of No More Goodbyes, written by LDS author Carol Lynn Pearson, and In Quiet Desperation, a book about an LDS man's efforts to faithfully live the LDS religion while having same-sex attractions. In turn, his critique was criticized by other Mormon counselors, as well as by one of the book's authors, Ty Mansfield.