Through medical humanities, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) students engage with the human side of healthcare. Through the lenses of visual and performing arts, bioethics, disability studies, professional identity formation, and more, these spotlights showcase how our students use creative expression and critical inquiry to explore the lived experiences of medicine, health, and illness. We invite you to explore their stories and see how they are cultivating the empathy, reflection, and insight essential to the future of medicine.
Drenushe Krasniqi-Vanmeter – The Art of Becoming
For first-year medical student Drenushe Krasniqi-Vanmeter, the path to medicine has been defined by “togetherness”—a theme she explored in her poem, “This Kind of Becoming,” which she presented as a poster at the Midwest Medical Humanities Student Conference in April 2026. Her journey from Kosovo to the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) highlights the vital intersection of personal narrative and clinical practice.
A Shared Resilience
Drenushe’s poem, “This Kind of Becoming,” challenges the traditional notion of resilience as a solitary trait. Originally drafted during her undergraduate years, the piece evolved as she navigated the challenges of being an immigrant away from her family.
“The poem is my way of showing that even though we achieve so much as medical students, and people praise you for that, it is not because I did all of this by myself,” Drenushe explains. “It’s because of the resilience of the people behind me who show up all the time when I can’t.” Sharing this work at the conference allowed her to connect with peers over the shared experience of “becoming” both a student and a physician.
From Kosovo to Cleveland
Drenushe’s perspective is shaped by her history. Having witnessed Kosovo’s independence in 2008, she later moved to Germany for high school and eventually arrived in the United States in 2017.
Before joining CCLCM, she attended Earlham College and spent four years conducting research in Boston. Throughout these transitions, she learned the importance of intentionally building a community. Today, she has established a home in the States with her husband and their 21-year-old cat, continuing to find strength in the support systems she creates.
The Role of Health Humanities
Drenushe’s passion for health humanities began with a college course titled “Cradle and Grave,” where she wrote for the first time about the loss of her father at the age of ten. The experience of writing was transformative, teaching her that medicine extends far beyond biology.
“Through poetry, prose, literature, and media, we can see our patients a lot more—really sit with them and be present,” she says. She believes the health humanities are essential for understanding the “bigger picture,” such as how social drivers, like transportation or family dynamics, affect a patient’s ability to follow a care plan.
Embracing Vulnerability
Presenting a personal poem at a professional conference was a meaningful step in overcoming the fear of vulnerability for Drenushe. While she once associated sharing personal stories with a “victim mentality,” she now recognizes it as a core clinical skill.
“I think there’s so much power in being vulnerable and sharing your story,” Drenushe notes. “As doctors, most of what we can do is make our patients feel heard… hearing their story and really believing in them.”
Looking Forward
Drenushe chose CCLCM for its dedicated focus on the “Art and Practice of Medicine.” As she completes her first year, she is committed to a career that balances biomedical expertise with human-centered care. Her advice to fellow students with creative interests is simple: “You would be surprised how many people have the same questions and the same shared experiences that you are also experiencing.”