Reading aloud in early childhood plays a critical role in lifelong development. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that shared reading beginning in infancy supports early brain development, strengthens caregiver-child relationships and improves language and social-emotional outcomes.
Pacific Medical Centers takes an active role in shared reading. Through a longstanding partnership with Reach Out and Read, PacMed integrates early literacy promotion into pediatric primary care—addressing a key social driver of health during routine well-child visits.
Today, four PacMed clinics participate in the Reach Out and Read program with plans to expand to all primary care locations. During well-child visits, clinicians provide each child with a free, developmentally appropriate book and offer guidance to caregivers on building reading routines at home. In 2025, PacMed clinicians distributed 1,009 books to children across participating clinics, helping families access tools that support language development, early learning and caregiver-child bonding.
“There are so many ways to encourage a child with books, even if they are not to the point of recognizing words,” said Danyelle Thomas, M.D., a family medicine physician who participates in the program. “It’s a valuable time with family and a great way to build confidence.”
For many families, receiving a book during a medical visit reinforces that reading is an essential part of healthy development and that support for learning can begin in trusted care settings.
“As the only program of its kind, Reach Out and Read is uniquely able to change the lives of children and their families and reduce health and education inequities,” said Hannah Slaughter, program director of Reach Out and Read Northwest. “Clinicians have a built-in strategy to help families bond and support caregivers to create positive interactions with their child, foster attachment and promote resilience.”
This partnership reflects PacMed’s commitment to health equity and whole-person care. By meeting families where they are and supporting literacy from infancy, PacMed helps children build skills that extend far beyond the exam room—creating a healthier foundation for the future.
