Joan Mukogosi is a social scientist conducting research, building strategy, and delivering commentary at the intersection of technology, health, and identity. A sociologist by training and an Afrofuturist by vocation, Joan’s work interrogates how Black lives are represented in health data; how health experts contemplate digital documentations of race; and the relationship between anti-Black racism, artificial intelligence, and electronic health records.
Her latest research explores how Black-centered birth workers are navigating increasingly data-driven maternal health care in the United States.
Joan is a Research Analyst in the Trustworthy Infrastructures program at Data & Society Research Institute and a fellow at the Black Beyond Data Lab where she helps to convene the Community Health Informatics Advisory Group.
Selected Projects
Establishing Vigilant Care
This qualitative research project explores the role of digital health technologies in the delivery of maternity care to Black patients, uncovering acts of vigilant care.
The Black Frontline
This oral history project archives the stories of Black doctors and nurses across the African Diaspora who worked the frontline of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Essentially Unprotected
This qualitative research project details essential workers’ experiences with health surveillance during thr COVID-19 pandemic, unearthing tensions between health data privacy and worker safety.
Selected Talks
Moderated book talk for Queer Data Studies, an anthology featuring essays that examine, how data impacts queer subjects.
Data In/Visibility
Panel discussion at the 2024 Data for Black Lives conference featuring insights from my research on Black reproductive health and digital privacy.
Our Bodies Keep Score
Black maternal health is in crisis. Can technology help?
Moderated discussion about the facts and future of data-driven maternal care for Black patients.
