About Us
Treatment, Research, and Education to end Obesity
At TREO our purpose is to end obesity, by increasing the scientific and public understanding of metabolic and bariatric surgery. We believe that expanding access to one of the most underutilized treatments in medicine has never been more important or more urgently needed. For over 25 years (formerly as the ASMBS Foundation) we have supported this mission through a dedicated focus on three core areas of Treatment, Research, and Education to end Obesity. We continue this important work today and tomorrow as TREO.
Our Mission
The mission of TREO Foundation is to raise funds for conducting research and education, increasing public and scientific awareness and understanding, and improving access to quality care and treatment of obesity and morbid obesity.
- Raise Funds that directly support critical research and education on obesity, severe obesity, and metabolic and bariatric surgery.
- Increase Scientific and Public Awareness and Understanding of obesity as a disease and that treatment of obesity and severe obesity can prevent, improve or resolve many metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes and other diseases including cancer.
- Improve Access to Quality Care and Treatment for Americans with obesity and severe obesity by eliminating policy, societal, economic and medical barriers that deny people appropriate treatment and support.
Insights From Our Leaders
This is Not Risky Surgery
“When patients learn how safe this procedure is they don’t hesitate to have the operation. The most common patient statement after surgery is “My only regret is that I wish that I would have had the procedure sooner in my life!”
Dr. Carl Pesta
President
Expand Access to Treatments
“Our mission is to combat obesity, by increasing the understanding of metabolic and bariatric surgery. Expanding access to one of the most underutilized treatments in medicine has never been more important or urgently needed.”
Michael Votta
Executive Director
Join Us to End Obesity
“My grandfather struggled with obesity. I saw the toll it took on his health for decades. Bariatric surgery is not “the easy way out,” it is a healthcare tool that gives you a fighting chance to manage your obesity.”
Randy Slade
Program and Events Director
Board of Directors
Carl Pesta, DO
Saniea Majid, MD
Benjamin Clapp, MD
Pamela Davis, RN, BSN
Shaina Eckhouse, MD
Diane M. Enos, MPH, RDN, CAE, FAND
Carlos Galvani, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Omar M. Ghanem, MD
January A. Hill, MD
Charlotte Hodges, MD
Tammy Kindell, WUSM
Samer Matar, MD
John Morton, FACS, FASMBS, MD, MPH, MHA, BS
Charles E. Thompson III, MD
25 Years of Impact and Growing
Founded to support obesity awareness and research
The TREO Foundation was founded by the ASMBS Executive Council and spearheaded by Dr. Ross Fox. The Foundation was established to provide fundraising through charitable gifts and public and private donations to support obesity awareness, understanding, and research.
Over $2 Million in grants for innovative research
Today we build on our founding legacy by awarding research and community grants that fuel treatment, research and education initiatives that shape policy and perceptions of obesity and metabolic and bariatric surgery. Our yearly LEAD Awards honor changemakers in the field.
TREO: Treatment, Research, Education to end Obesity
The TREO Foundation focuses on Treatment, Research, and Education to end Obesity. We work with the ASMBS Society as a valued partner, and are excited to grow the Foundation’s impact through the many generous donations that support life-changing research.
Grantee Spotlight
Meet the people making the breakthroughs
“I am a board-certified endocrinologist and translational investigator with more than 15 years’ experience in human research related to metabolism, obesity, and diabetes. I started my academic career as a clinician and… became recognized as a regional and national expert.”
Marzieh Salehi MD
Recipient of the 2006 Research Grant
Study The role of glucagon-like peptide‐1 in glucose metabolism and weight loss following gastric bypass surgery.
Currently Dr. Salehi is currently University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Dept. of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology
