digital sherpa® Program

The digital sherpa® Program aims to help cancer patients (mainly 65 and older) and their families become more tech-savvy. The program’s workshops educate patients and care partners in basic internet and social media skills to help them in their search for information about their illness and support for them and their families.

Cancer patients, known as “climbers” in the program, are paired with university students, known as “sherpas”, who have been specially trained by the Patient Empowerment Network to offer skills such as:

  • Internet use (such as opening an email account, navigating Google, and creating and remembering passwords)
  • Social media skills (including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram)
  • Creating virtual connections with other cancer patients via on-line patient support communities
  • How to use apps such as Uber and other ride-share services to get to appointments

Program Video

digital sherpa™ Program from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.


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