From knee injury to 5Ks: How Geoff Severin got back to running with MSU Health Care
June 15, 2026 - Amy Soper
Geoff Severin is back to running 5Ks after knee surgery and physical therapy with MSU Health Care Sports Medicine providers. Photos by Lindsay Gluf-Magar.
Squatting down to retrieve a Dutch oven from a lower cabinet at his Okemos home nearly put a permanent stop to one of Geoff Severin's favorite activities.
“I felt a sharp pain in my left knee and after that, I couldn’t run,” Severin, 46, said. “I couldn’t even go down stairs.”
An avid runner and Michigan State University faculty member, Severin suddenly found himself unable to do the things that kept him active and grounded. Even gardening was off the table.
After seeing his primary care provider at MSU Health Care, Severin was referred to MSU Health Care Sports Medicine, where he learned he had two tears in his left meniscus.
Choosing a path forward
Severin met with his care team to talk through options.
“They were very clear,” he said. “Without surgery, I wouldn’t return to running. With surgery, there was a chance I could be fully active again.”
For Severin, the decision came down to quality of life.
“Running is an important part of my physical and mental health,” he said. “I knew I wanted to do everything I could to get back to that.”
Care built around the patient
Working with board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Toufic Jildeh, Severin chose a surgical approach focused on his long-term goal of being able to run again.
“There was an option to remove the damaged part of the meniscus, which would have meant a faster recovery,” Severin said. “But that came with a higher risk of osteoarthritis and not being able to return to the lifestyle I wanted.”
Instead, Dr. Jildeh performed a repair, preserving about 95% of the meniscus.
“He knew what I wanted out of this,” Severin said. “So, we made decisions that would help get me where I wanted to be.”
Dr. Toufic Jildeh examines Geoff Severin's knee.
A challenging recovery with the right support
The recovery wasn’t easy.
“There were weeks where I couldn’t put weight on my leg. I was on crutches with huge braces on,” Severin said. “It was a taxing thing for my family, and my wife had to help me with lots of stuff.”
He also faced setbacks and moments of doubt.
“I have a tendency to be a glass-half-empty person,” he said. “If something hurt or seemed off, I worried something was wrong,”
But Severin’s care team stayed closely connected. When he had concerns, Dr. Jildeh responded quickly and reassured him about what was normal.
“The care team was always there,” Severin said. “Not just for the physical side, but for the mental side too.”
Physical therapy that made a difference
A turning point in Geoff’s recovery was working with Meg Darmofal, a licensed physical therapist with MSU Health Care Physical and Occupational Therapy.
“Meg was a high-level track and field runner at the University of Michigan, and she knew how important running was to my life,” he said. “She recognized what it meant to me to get back to running. She and I were on the same page.”
Severin's therapy plan was built specifically around the goal of not just getting back to everyday movement but returning to full activity.
Over several months, Severin progressed from basic strength and mobility to advanced movement and eventually running again using an anti-gravity reduced body-weight treadmill.
“Meg knew where I needed to be, and the care lasted until I was ready to go and be who I was before my injury,” he said. “Every session built toward that.”
Physical therapist Meg Darmofal works with Geoff Severin as he uses an anti-gravity treadmill.
Back to the life he loves
Severin is now back to running four days a week and taking part in 5Ks. And he’s gardening and doing yard work without pain.
Looking back on his surgery and physical therapy, what stands out most to Severin is how personal the care felt.
“I’m fully participating in the life I expected to have,” he said. “They tailored everything to the lifestyle I wanted to get back to.”
Advice for other patients
Severin encourages others to be open about their goals.
“Don’t be shy about what recovery looks like for you,” he said. “The more your care team understands that, the better they can help you get there.”
Thinking about your own recovery goals? MSU Health Care is here to help you get back to what you love.