He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and received a medical degree from the University of lllinois in Chicago. Dr. Scharf received postdoctoral training in general surgery from the University of Illinois Hospital, Cook County Hospital, and the West Side Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Chicago. He completed residency studies in general surgery at the Ohio State University in general surgery. Dr. Scharf was a staff surgeon with the OSF Medical Group at the OSF St. James – John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac, Illinois until November 2007. In 2007, he transitioned to the Corporate Office of OSF Healthcare Systems where he works in the Division of Strategic Effectiveness as a Physician Change Agent.