Book Club at a medical school in the Sertão Region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil

Abstract

Background: The integration of literature and the humanities into medical education offers numerous benefits for both students and the broader community. Engaging with literary texts encourages the development of empathy, critical thinking, emotional awareness, and communication skills, all essential for a more humanistic and socially responsive medical practice. Additionally, initiatives that bring together students and local residents through shared cultural experiences help strengthen the university’s connection with the surrounding community and promote mutual understanding. The Book club was created at the medical school in Caicó (RN, Brazil), as a space to explore diverse literary works beyond the health sciences.

Case Presentation: The Book Club was approved as an extension event and is promoted in Escola Multicampi de Ciências Médicas do Rio Grande do Norte (EMCM) by the Pro-Rectory of Extension from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) situated in Caicó city (RN, Brazil). It has a multidisciplinary team of students, teachers and technical staff. Six literary works were selected based on the alignment with the club’s educational goals, particularly the potential to stimulate critical reflection on themes such as grief, racism, gender, and social justice. Registration took place through the Integrated Academic Activities Management System, and the monthly meetings were held in the Medical School auditorium. Participants received pedagogical support via social networks, club app, reading planner and newsletter.

Conclusions: With 22 participants, including 8 community members and 14 medical students, the Book Club explored perspectives such as gender, racism, grief, trauma and colonialism. The predominance of medical students highlights academic interest and institutional support in extension projects, while low community adherence points to the need for new engagement strategies. The analysis of followers on Instagram reveals a significant participation of the local population, especially among women, but also highlights a gap in the presence of men and adolescents. This demonstrates the importance of a more inclusive and diverse approach to attracting different audiences. The Book Club at the public Medical School, by stimulating cognitive and human skills through literature, enriches academic training and strengthens the connection between academia and the community.