Faiz Shariff MD

03/16/2026

Honored to be nominated alongside such an incredible group of colleagues. Grateful to be part of a team at WellSpan that is deeply committed to advancing patient care, innovation, and community health.

Congratulations to all the nominees — proud to stand with you and proud to be part of this team.

is an understatement – get to know our team members who have been nominated for Health Care Hero awards by Central Penn Business Journal!

⭐ Nominated for Physician of the Year – Dr. Faiz Shariff
⭐ Nominated for Advancements and Innovation in Health Care – Dr. Brian Pollak
⭐ Nominated for Health Care Management – Adam Updegraff
⭐ Nominated for Physical Therapy – Karin Lee
⭐ Nominated for Workplace Wellness Program of the Year – WellSpan's Workplace Wellbeing Program, represented by Michael Diller and Dr. Ridgley Salter

Fantastic work, team! Help us cheer them on in the comment section.

03/13/2026

10 things I don’t do as a bariatric surgeon

1) Blame weight regain on “lack of willpower.”
Weight regulation is hormonal, metabolic, and neurologic — not a character flaw.

2) Promise surgery is a cure-all.
It’s a powerful tool, not magic. Long-term success requires nutrition, behavior change, and ongoing support.

3) Focus only on the number on the scale.
Body composition, muscle mass, metabolic health, and quality of life matter far more.

4) Ignore mental health in outcomes.
Stress, trauma, anxiety, and depression directly influence eating behavior and metabolism.

5) Assume a stall means failure.
Plateaus are part of normal physiology, not a sign that something is “wrong.”

6) Undereat protein or ignore strength training.
Muscle preservation is non-negotiable after bariatric surgery.

7) Ignore vitamins long-term.
Micronutrient deficiencies can develop years later and deserve lifelong attention.

8) Treat all bariatric patients the same.
VSG, bypass, revision surgery, time since surgery — context changes everything.

9) Ignore smoking risks.
Smoking increases the risk of ulcers, leaks, and poor healing. Addressing it is part of protecting patients, not judging them.

10) Disappear after the first year.
Bariatric surgery is not a one-time event. It’s lifelong metabolic care — and patients deserve long-term partnership.

03/04/2026

Today isn’t about us.
It’s about you.

Every sign that says “I Commit to Care” is a promise —
that you will be treated with dignity,
that your health will be taken seriously,
that your body is not a punchline or a failure.

On World Obesity Day, our entire team stands with you.

Obesity is a chronic disease — not a character flaw.
And you deserve evidence-based care, access to treatment, and a team that sees you beyond a number on a scale.

We commit to listening.
We commit to advocating.
We commit to walking this journey with you.

Because your health matters.
And so do you.

03/03/2026

Doing the childhood photo trend and realizing the signs were there ✨

This little girl crossed oceans, said yes to more exams than necessary, and somehow ended up operating robots.

Now she spends her time debunking metabolic myths and reminding people they can stop apologizing for their bodies.

Because a second chance at health shouldn’t feel radical — it should feel possible. surgeon

03/02/2026

As a bariatric & metabolic surgeon, these are the 10 things I always carry in my hand luggage on long-haul flights.

Long flights are dehydrating, inflammatory, and disruptive to sleep and digestion — especially after bariatric surgery. I don’t leave this to chance.

Here’s what’s always in my carry-on:

💧 Refillable water bottle
Cabin air dehydrates you quickly. Staying ahead on fluids protects energy, circulation, and digestion.

🥜 Protein-forward snacks
Nuts, nut butter packets, grass-fed jerky.
Airline food is carb-heavy and salt-heavy, but low in protein.

⚡ Electrolytes (low/no sugar)
Water alone isn’t enough. Electrolytes improve absorption and prevent that drained, post-flight feeling.

🌙 Magnesium glycinate
For muscle relaxation, bowel regularity, stress control, and better sleep across time zones.

🌾 Fiber supplement
Travel + dehydration + sitting for hours = sluggish digestion.

💊 Bariatric vitamins
Missed doses add up. These never go in checked luggage.

🧳 Medications kit
Tylenol, nausea meds, reflux meds. Prevention > suffering at 35,000 feet.

💄 Moisturizer + lip balm
Cabin air is extremely dry. Comfort matters.

😴 Sleep kit
Pillow, eye mask, ear plugs. Sleep is metabolic medicine.

🧼 Hygiene essentials
Sanitizing wipes, toilet seat wipes, deodorant, toothbrush. Planes are not clean.

Small habits. Big difference.

If you’ve had bariatric surgery, what’s one thing you never travel without? ✈️

02/28/2026

I can’t stop thinking about that moment on the plane.

The humiliation wasn’t loud.
It was subtle.
But it was enough to make someone shrink.

And that’s how the trust gap grows.

Black adults are more likely to report discrimination in healthcare settings.
Black women have some of the highest rates of obesity in the U.S.
Yet studies show Black patients are less likely to be referred for bariatric surgery — even when they meet the same medical criteria.

Trust shapes who seeks care.
Trust shapes who asks questions.
Trust shapes who gets access to life-changing treatment.

Obesity is a chronic disease — not a character flaw.
And dignity in healthcare is not optional.

This Black History Month, honoring progress means acknowledging the work still ahead.

Because better outcomes begin with trust.