IKE Sailor Named 2010 Junior Physical Therapist of the Year

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Zach Allan, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The physical therapist assigned to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) (CVN 69), was recognized as the Naval Junior Physical Therapist of the Year during the Armed Forces Public Health Conference March 18-25.

Lt. Trevor S. Petrou, who doubles as the command health promotions coordinator, as the was honored at the conference which was held in Hampton, Va.

"I've really only been in the Navy for two years and to have this award in such a short amount of time is very humbling," Petrou said.

Petrou, one of 92 physical therapists in the Navy, joined the Navy Nov. 1, 2008 but that was not the beginning of his medical service to the military.

He reached the rank of major after joining the Air Force as a medical officer in August 1997 before leaving the service for personal reasons in 2006.

According to the nomination package submitted for the award, Petrou was cited for his clinical expertise, leadership, community involvement and professional development.

Since reporting aboard IKE Jan. 4, 2009, Petrou has managed the orthopedic needs of more than 5,000 Sailors from the Eisenhower Strike Group.

In 2010, he assisted 15 of the ship's serious orthopedic patients, kept 100 percent of IKE's Sailors mission-ready, and saved 32,000 man-hours of work while the ship was on deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

One advantage to winning this award is getting more challenging assignments, said Petrou.

After he departs the command in late April, he will report to Camp Lejune as the primary sports medicine expert for Marine Special Operations Command.