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.
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
