The ASMBS Foundation is Now
TREO Foundation
TREO is Treatment, Research, and Education to end Obesity. Our purpose is to combat obesity by increasing the scientific and public understanding of metabolic and bariatric surgery — one of the most underutilized treatments in medicine.
We have provided over $2.1 million in research funding.
Obesity impacts the health of 42.4% of Americans.
Only 1% take advantage of this potentially life-saving treatment.
Patients who have metabolic surgery experience improvement or remission of their type 2 diabetes.
"No One Left Behind"
Learn about TREO
Support Treatment, Research, and Education
Our Grants Support Healthy Outcomes
Funding research that matters
Treatment
We help improve access to quality care and effective treatment of obesity by eliminating policy, societal, economic and medical barriers.
Research
We help end the obesity epidemic by sponsoring scientific research grants regarding bariatric surgical procedures and improvement of post surgical outcomes.
Education
We work to increase awareness and understanding of obesity by educating the public on the prevention and treatment options available.
Grantee Spotlight
Meet the people making the breakthroughs
” Since this time I have leveraged our initial findings in heart failure and metabolic surgery for an additional $4 million in research funds.”
Tammy Kindel, MD
Recipient of the 2016 Research Grant
Study Spatial Transcriptomics Reveals Oncoprotective Effect of Bariatric Surgery Against Breast Cancer.
Currently Assistant Professor of Surgery MCW
LEAD Awards Honorees 2025
- Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
Michel Gagner, MD, FRCS, FACS
- Circle of Excellence
Kati Duncan, PsyD
- Dr. Ronald Clements Patient Safety & Quality
John Wilder Baker, MD, FACS, DABS-FPMBS
- Excellence in Clinical Care
Joe Northup, MD, FACS
- Excellence in Nutrition
Colleen Tewksbury, PhD, RD, FASMBS-IH
- International
Ricardo Cohen, MD, PhD
- Dr. Walter J. Pories Research
Omar M. Ghanem, MD, FACS
- Dr. Harvey Sugerman Master Educator
Corrigan McBride, MD, MBA, FACS, DABOM
- Rising Star
Monique Hassan, MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS
- Distinguished Industry Partner
Gary Klimek
- Special Recognition Award
L. Renee Hilton-Rowe
Thank you to our 2025 LEAD Award sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Presenter of the Advocacy Award (ASMBS Special Recognition)
Sponsor of the Rising Star Award
Gold Sponsors
Sponsor of the Excellence in Nutrition Award
Sponsor of the Dr. Walter Pories Research Award
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
