Stephen Pemberton

Stephen Pemberton is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of American Studies and History at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), where he teaches courses on the history of medicine, public health, and biomedical technology. He holds a Ph.D. in History/History of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has held fellowships at Rutgers University and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

• Ph.D. in History/History of Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• M.A. in History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• M.A. in Philosophy, University of Memphis

His research centers on the history of medicine, particularly the social and cultural dimensions of hemophilia, genetic diseases, and public health in 20th-century America. He explores how medical technologies, gender norms, and racial ideologies have shaped patient experiences and health outcomes. His work bridges disability studies, medical humanities, and science and technology studies.

His publications include The Bleeding Disease (2011) and The Troubled Dream of Genetic Medicine (2006), which examine the unintended consequences of medical progress and disparities in genetic medicine. His articles reflect a strong focus on chronic disease, animal models in research, and the commodification of blood.

His scientific honors include the 2006 PROSE Award in History of Science, a Visiting Scholar appointment at the Institute for Medical Humanities, and fellowships from Rutgers and the NIH. He has also received research grants supporting his historical investigations into medicine and health policy.

Pemberton advises graduate students and has taught a wide range of courses on medicine, law, race, and the body. He is currently engaged in research on the history of blood as a commodity and the role of hematologists in the development of genetic medicine. He leads the history program at NJIT and is active in interdisciplinary scholarship.