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 Award Honorees 2026
View Past Honorees
LEAD Awards:
Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Ronald Clements Patient Safety, Quality, and Clinical Excellence Award
Dr. Harvey Sugerman Master Educator Award
Dr. Walter J. Pories Research Award
Distinguished Industry Partner Award
Excellence in Clinical Care Award
IH LEAD Awards:
Distinguished Certified Bariatric Nurse
- Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
Wayne English, MD, FACS, FASMBS
- Dr. Ronald Clements Patient Safety, Quality, and Clinical Excellence
Sergio J. Bardaro, MD, FACS, FASMBS, DABS-FPMBS
- Dr. Walter J. Pories Research
Tammy Kindel, MD, PhD
- Dr. Harvey Sugerman Master Educator
Mohamed Ali, MD, FACS, FASMBS, DABS-FPMBS
- Rising Star
Sarah Samreen, MD, FACS, FASMBS
- Distinguished Industry Partner
Patrick Daly, MBA
- Circle of Excellence (IH)
Heidi Bednarchuk, APRN, CNS, FASMBS-IH
- Distinguished Certified Bariatric Nurse (IH)
Carah Horn, MBA-HCA, BSN, RN, MBSCR, CBN, FASMBS-IH
- Distinguished Behavioral Health Provider (IH)
Ninoska Peterson, Phd, FASMBS-IH, FTOS
- Excellence in Nutrition (IH)
Mary Gray Hixson, MPH, RD, CSOWN, LDN, FASMBS-IH
- Distinguished Advanced Practice Provider (IH)
Jill Welshans, AG-ACNP
Thank you to our 2026 LEAD Award sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Sponsor of the Dr. Ronald Clements Patient Safety, Quality, and Clinical Excellence Award
Sponsor of the Rising Star Award
In-kind Support
Gold Sponsors
Sponsor of the Excellence in Nutrition Award
Sponsor of the Dr. Walter Pories Research Award
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
