Naomi Pank
Public Health Nursing Specialist, Co-Lead SWEEP-TB Project
Working groups
Background
Naomi has a background in clinical nursing. She is well experienced in public health and research with strong involvement in operational research.
She is delighted to have clocked in a decade of her career this year (2025). This includes 3 years in clinical practice and 7 years in public health and research.
Naomi looks forward to more years of growth with Burnet Institute through ongoing learning and contribution to international health development and disease control/elimination.
Qualifications
- 2020: Master of Public Health in International Health Development, Nagasaki University, Japan
- 2014: Bachelor in General Nursing, Pacific Adventist University, PNG
Appointments
- 2024–ongoing: PNG Technical Oversight Committee, Burnet Institute PNG
- 2023–ongoing: COVID-19 Focal Health Person, Burnet Institute Western Province Office
- 2020–ongoing: TMGH Alumni, Nagasaki University
- 2015–ongoing: PNG Nurses' Association
- 2014–ongoing: PAU Alumni
Awards
- 2024: Crochet-Murphy Travel Award
- 2024: Burnet Institute’s Values (Diversity, Respect, Equity & Inclusion) Award
- 2022: SORT-IT (Structured Operational Research Training Initiative) Award
- 2018: MEXT (Monbukagakusho Scholarship; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Scholarship
Positions
- Public Health Nursing Specialist
Burnet publications
Emerging evidence to reduce the burden of tuberculosis in children and young people
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Julie Huynh et al
Continuous quality improvement in a community-wide TB screening and prevention programme in Papua New Guinea
Public Health Action
Naomi Pank et al
Current projects
View 1 moreUnderstanding people-centred care for universal health coverage in Papua New Guinea
What does it actually mean for healthcare to put people first? By listening to people seeking and providing care, we're building evidence to help transform health systems from the ground up.
Innovative futures for adolescent pregnancy prevention
In Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, we're changing responses to unintended pregnancy among girls and young women by exploring contraceptive self-care strategies.
RID-TB: Reducing the Impact of Drug-Resistant TB in Western Province, Papua New Guinea
We're a partner in a multi-stakeholder response to the major tuberculosis epidemic in Western Province, Papua New Guinea.
News and features
Congratulations Naomi: 2025 Evelyn Lavu Travel Scholarship recipient
Naomi Pank has received the Evelyn Lavu Travel Scholarship for Papua New Guinea-based researchers in tuberculosis.
Celebrating the 2024 Burnet Travel Awards
Burnet research being presented at PNG Medical Symposium
The impact of COVID-19 on leading diseases and medical treatment in Papua New Guinea was a major focus.