Fiction-Based Book Clubs: Building Empathy Through Storytelling

In this episode of MedEd Thread, we speak with Loren Hackett, Medical Librarian at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, and Michelle Kraft, Director of Library Services for the Cleveland Clinic Health System, about the growing role of fiction-based book clubs in medical education. They discuss how shared reading and discussion can foster empathy, encourage reflection, promote wellness and create spaces for exploring complex issues such as addiction, grief, identity and bias. The conversation also highlights how book clubs help break down hierarchy, strengthen interprofessional connections and deepen understanding of the patient experience. Tune in to learn how storytelling and literature can serve as powerful tools for professional growth, humanistic learning and compassionate patient care.