USS Mesa Verde Sailor Selected as Navy’s Top PMT

Training & Education

USS Mesa Verde Sailor Selected as Navy's Top PMT

The Preventive Medicine technician (PMT) on board USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) is the Navy’s 2011 PMT of the Year, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) Portsmouth, Va., announced April 5.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW) Shannon Taylor, a Long Island, N.Y., native, was recognized for his selection in a ceremony held April 4 on board Mesa Verde.

The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center is proud to award the Stephen W. Brown Award to HM1 Shannon Taylor,” said Capt. Mike Macinski, NMCPHC commanding officer. “His consistent performance and dynamic leadership as a Preventive Medicine Technician made him a stand-out candidate. His actions clearly made a difference to his fellow crew members and the Navy.”

Macinski and Cmdr. John Reilley, USS Mesa Verde commanding officer, presented the Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Stephen W. Brown Preventive Medicine Technician of the Year Award to Taylor. The award, established in 1989, recognizes an individual PMT for sustained professional excellence and significant contributions to Navy and/or Marine Corps Preventive Medicine, Occupational Health, and/or Health Promotion Programs. The award is presented in memory of Master Chief Stephen W. Brown, who served in the Navy from 1952-1986.

Taylor, an 18-year Navy veteran, is responsible for ship and crew compliance with Navy Occupational Safety and Preventive Medicine standards to ensure the highest state of medical readiness necessary to complete the ship’s mission. He said he enjoys his work with the crew.

“The most rewarding part of being a Preventive Medicine technician is helping educate the crew and demonstrating the versatility of my job as a vital part of the overall shipboard medical team,” said Taylor.

Reilley said Taylor’s persistence and work ethic made the PMT stand out.

Petty Officer Taylor’s personal passion for doggedly tracking down every possible source of risk to the health of his shipmates is what I think broke him out from a pack of excellent candidates,” said Reilley. “To him, it’s not about the myriad special programs (and paperwork that go along with them). It’s about taking care of his shipmates.”

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Naval Today Staff , April 06, 2012; Image: navy