Jo Norton was a research nurse for EDOR from 2013-2017. She gained a Bachelor of Nursing degree in 1997 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary) in 2001.
Her work was in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, determining better ways to monitor and treat the symptoms. She also collaborated with the Gut Health Network and classified inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prevalence in Otago.
Healthy choices key
Jo has a keen interest in how to best convey health information to patients. She encouraged healthy lifestyle choices as both a way of preventing disease, and of assisting patients to manage it as well as possible. She also promoted sharing of knowledge and current research amongst health professionals.
Nursing and teaching skills combine
Jo trained as a Registered Nurse and spent her first two years working as a surgical staff nurse in Australia. Upon returning to New Zealand Jo worked as a practice nurse at a health centre, and at Otago Polytechnic Student Health. She developed a special interest in health promotion when running smoking cessation programmes with students. She also completed her certificate in sexual health.
Jo has also worked as a primary school teacher in Nelson and Otago. She was a lead teacher in both health and physical education. Her nursing and teaching backgrounds bring complementary strengths to her role of Research Nurse.
