Terri Coutee: ASPS Patient of Courage, 2018

Abstract

Summary:. Mrs. Terri Coutee was selected as an American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Patient of Courage in 2018. Following successful treatment of her second breast cancer, which included a double nipple-sparing mastectomy and delayed deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, Terri changed her career path from teaching to patient advocacy. In 2016, she launched DiepCFoundation.org, a non-profit organization that provides education, support, resources, and a community for women and men seeking information about breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Today, DiepCFoundation connects patients and physicians on a global scale, fostering a shared decision-making approach to breast reconstruction.