From Setback to Comeback to Career Track: Jonathon Symuleski’s ACL Injury Doesn't Hold Him Back

What keeps athletes up at night is not the high-pressure stakes of a game on the line or the vulnerability of having a crowd of eyes watching them. It’s the fear of getting injured, as it only takes one startling moment for it all – their hard work, dedication, season or career – to come to an end.

But as those who have fought their way back from an injury know, it’s not just a process of recovery, but one of discovery. This truth is one Jonathon Symuleski, 19, learned firsthand after unexpectedly suffering an injury during basketball practice, halfway through his senior year of high school.

An MRI at Lehigh Valley Health Network revealed Symuleski tore his anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. Just like that Symuleski’s basketball career was over and his last high school track season came to an end before it even began. With offers from Eastern Mennonite University and Scranton University for a spot on their track and field team as a throwing events athlete in the fall, Symuleski was determined to turn this setback into a comeback.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of ACL injuries, surgery is very often needed to regain full mobility or return to an active lifestyle. Following his MRI results, Symuleski had an appointment with orthopedic surgeon Lisa O’Brien, DO, LVPG Orthopedics and Sports Medicine–Dickson City, to discuss his surgery options.

In March 2023, Symuleski underwent surgery where Dr. O’Brien performed an ACL reconstruction with quadriceps tendon autograft – a procedure that involves reconstructing the ACL using tissue from one’s own quadriceps tendon, a thick band of tissue just above the knee.

“This surgical procedure (autograft) typically has a higher success rate because we’re using tissue from the patient’s own body, ensuring compatibility and reducing the risk of rejection,” Dr. O’Brien says. “There are benefits of using an autograft in younger patients, especially athletes, because there’s a lower retear rate.”

Symuleski’s healing journey started as the track season began. While he was unable to compete his senior year, Symuleski still showed up for his team, voluntarily coming to practices to help fellow throwers. Meanwhile, Symuleski worked hard in physical therapy, looking ahead to where his collegiate career awaited.

Symuleski’s recovery continued into his first semester of college where he was limited on what he could do in practice. In February 2024, just shy of a year after his surgery, Symuleski made his collegiate debut for the indoor track season where he threw the shot put. When the outdoor track and field season began in March, Symuleski secured his comeback, competing in all three of his throwing events – shot put, javelin and his best, discus.

Symuleski’s injury, surgery and recovery strengthened his decision to study premed in college and awakened an interest in surgery.

In June 2024, Symuleski returned to LVHN, this time to shadow Dr. O’Brien in the clinic – mostly observing her work and watching her perform operations in the OR.

“When you go into surgery as a patient, it’s a really big thing, but for orthopedic surgeons like Dr. O’Brien, it’s their job every day. They know what they’re doing. It’s cool to see everything behind the scenes, and the amount of patience and work being an orthopedic surgeon requires,” Symuleski says.

“Having Jonathon shadow me was a real full circle moment,” Dr. O’Brien says. “It feels really good to have such a strong impact on someone both physically and educationally, and to act as a role model in addition to a caretaker is really special.”

Symuleski is entering his second year of college at the University of Scranton, where he will continue studying biochemistry with a premed track. He’s taking into this year excitement for a full track season and gratitude for the invaluable experience he gained from shadowing Dr. O’Brien. While Symuleski plans to continue exploring the different areas of specialties to figure out what he wants to do, this shadowing experience affirmed he’s on the right career path and he looks forward to one day adding “Dr.” in front of his last name.