Torri Metz Explained

Torri Metz
Fields:Maternal-fetal medicine
Obstetrics and gynecology
Marijuana
Workplaces:University of Colorado
Denver Health
University of Utah
Alma Mater:University of Colorado
University of Utah
Known For:Adverse effects of marijuana on pregnancy
COVID-19 and pregnancy outcomes
Awards:ACOG District VIII Mentor of the Year Award

Torri Metz is an American obstetrician and high-risk pregnancy researcher at the University of Utah Health. Metz is an associate professor of maternal-fetal medicine and is the vice chair of research in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah. Metz is known for her research exploring the effects of marijuana on pregnancy outcomes.

Early life and education

Metz attended the University of Colorado Boulder for her undergraduate degree in chemistry.[1] Metz stayed at the University of Colorado for medical school. Metz was inspired to pursue obstetrics and gynecology after a rotation with an obstetrician in medical school.[2] She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado in Denver.[3] Metz then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to pursue a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Utah Health. During this time, she also completed a Master of Science degree in clinical investigation.

Career and research

Following her fellowship, Metz returned to the University of Colorado as an assistant professor of maternal-fetal medicine and worked at both Denver Health and the University of Colorado Hospital.[4] [5]  In 2018, Metz was recruited to the University of Utah Health where she became an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology.[6] In 2022, she was selected as the Vice Chair of Research at the University of Utah Health. Metz also is the director and principal investigator of the ELEVATE Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence which aims to address maternal health disparities especially among rural and Native American women.[7]

Marijuana use in pregnancy

Metz has dedicated much of her research career to exploring the effects of marijuana on adverse birth outcomes. In 2018, Metz and her colleagues found that dispensary employees in Colorado were recommending cannabis products to pregnant women, even stating that they are safe to use, against the recommendation of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.[5] [8] This finding was important for physicians to know how and where patients might be getting misinformation regarding cannabis products and their use in pregnancy.[9] [10]

Following this work, Metz found that marijuana use in pregnancy is harmful both to the birthing patient and the newborn.[11] [12] Her work, published in JAMA in 2023,[13] showed that continued marijuana use throughout pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight.[14] [15] Marijuana use is also associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the birthing patient such as pre-eclampsia.[16]

COVID-19 in pregnancy

Metz has also conducted research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant people.[17] Metz has found that pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are at a significantly higher risk of mortality and of highly morbid conditions such as postpartum hemorrhage and severely elevated blood pressure.[18] Her work highlighted the risks pregnant women face, especially if unvaccinated and exposed to COVID-19.[19] [20] Her research also found that pregnant women with COVID-19 have higher rates of C-section, prematurity, and stillbirth.[21] [22]

Awards and honors

Select publications

Metz TD, Allshouse AA, Hogue CJ, Goldenberg RL, Dudley DJ, Varner MW, Conway DL, Saade GR, Silver RM. Maternal marijuana use, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal morbidity. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Oct;217(4):478.e1-478.e8. . Epub 2017 May 31. ; PMCID: PMC5614818.[24]

Dickson B, Mansfield C, Guiahi M, Allshouse AA, Borgelt LM, Sheeder J, Silver RM, Metz TD. Recommendations From Cannabis Dispensaries About First-Trimester Cannabis Use. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jun;131(6):1031-1038. . ; PMCID: PMC5970054.[25]

Metz TD, Clifton RG, Hughes BL, Sandoval GJ, Grobman WA, Saade GR, Manuck TA, Longo M, Sowles A, Clark K, Simhan HN, Rouse DJ, Mendez-Figueroa H, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Bailit JL, Costantine MM, Sehdev HM, Tita ATN, Macones GA; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network. Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Serious Maternal Morbidity and Mortality From Obstetric Complications. JAMA. 2022 Feb 22;327(8):748-759. . ; PMCID: PMC8822445.[26]

Metz TD, Allshouse AA, McMillin GA, Greene T, Chung JH, Grobman WA, Haas DM, Mercer BM, Parry S, Reddy UM, Saade GR, Simhan HN, Silver RM. Cannabis Exposure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Related to Placental Function. JAMA. 2023 Dec 12;330(22):2191-2199.. ; PMCID: PMC10716715.[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-01-17 . Torri D. Metz University of Utah Health . 2024-01-12 . healthcare.utah.edu . en.
  2. Web site: 2023-03-01 . Torri D. Metz, M.D. NHLBI, NIH . 2024-01-12 . www.nhlbi.nih.gov . en.
  3. November 2020 . Editors Selected to Lead Obstetrics & Gynecology During Transition . Obstetrics & Gynecology . en-US . 136 . 5 . 873 . 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004153 . 33962457 . 0029-7844.
  4. Web site: Jan 11, 2024 . Torri D Metz CV . Jan 11, 2024 . CU Anschutz.
  5. Web site: Nedelman . Michael . 2018-05-10 . Marijuana shops recommend products to pregnant women, against doctors' warnings . 2024-01-12 . CNN . en.
  6. Web site: 2022-10-24 . Torri Metz Selected as New Deputy Editor for Obstetrics for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal University of Utah Health University of Utah Health . 2024-01-12 . uofuhealth.utah.edu . en.
  7. Web site: Communication . Marketing and . 2023-09-11 . New Maternal Health Research Center Aims to Reduce Pregnancy-Related Deaths University of Utah Health . 2024-01-12 . healthcare.utah.edu . en.
  8. Web site: Daley . John . Study: Dispensaries Recommend Marijuana To Pregnant Women, Against Medical Advice . 2024-01-12 . Colorado Public Radio . 9 May 2018 . en.
  9. Web site: Post . John Ingold The Denver . 2018-05-09 . Nearly 280 marijuana stores in Colorado suggested cannabis for pregnancy-related nausea, a new study shows. Health officials urge the opposite. . 2024-01-12 . The Denver Post . en-US.
  10. Web site: Allen . Margaret . 2016-05-20 . Is It Safe to Smoke Weed While Pregnant? Separating Science from Hysteria . 2024-01-12 . Vice . en.
  11. News: Malhi . Sabrina . 2023-12-14 . Cannabis use linked to higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, study finds . 2024-01-12 . Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286.
  12. Web site: Rudy . Melissa . 2023-12-15 . Marijuana use by pregnant women linked to low birth weight: study . . 2024-01-12 . en-US.
  13. Web site: Becker Medical Library Proxy . 2024-01-12 . login.beckerproxy.wustl.edu.
  14. Web site: 2023-12-12 . Marijuana use during pregnancy linked to low birth weight, study finds . 2024-01-12 . NBC News . en.
  15. Web site: Communication . Marketing and . 2023-12-12 . Cannabis Exposure Linked to 1.3 Times Higher Risk of Unhealthy Pregnancy Outcomes University of Utah Health . 2024-01-12 . healthcare.utah.edu . en.
  16. Web site: Is it safe to use cannabis during pregnancy? Here's what Utah researchers found. . 2024-01-12 . The Salt Lake Tribune . en-US.
  17. Web site: University of Utah doctor leads national study on COVID-19 and pregnancy . 2024-01-12 . The Salt Lake Tribune . en-US.
  18. Web site: Florido . Adrian . March 6, 2022 . Pregnant people who contract COVID-19 are at a higher risk for death . January 11, 2024 . National Public Radio (NPR).
  19. Web site: COVID-19 linked to serious health complications during pregnancy . 2024-01-12 . EurekAlert! . en.
  20. Web site: Here's what Utah doctors are advising pregnant women about COVID-19 vaccines . 2024-01-12 . The Salt Lake Tribune . en-US.
  21. Web site: Study finds link between COVID-19, pregnancy complications . 2024-01-12 . ny1.com . en.
  22. Web site: Hart . Robert . Covid-19 Raises Risk Of Pregnancy Complications—Including Death Around Birth, Preterm Delivery And Postpartum Hemorrhage—Study Finds . 2024-01-12 . Forbes . en.
  23. Web site: Oct 17, 2022 . NICHD 60th Anniversary Symposium . Jan 11, 2024 . NIH.gov.
  24. Metz . Torri D. . Allshouse . Amanda A. . Hogue . Carol J. . Goldenberg . Robert L. . Dudley . Donald J. . Varner . Michael W. . Conway . Deborah L. . Saade . George R. . Silver . Robert M. . October 2017 . Maternal marijuana use, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal morbidity . American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology . 217 . 4 . 478.e1–478.e8 . 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.050 . 1097-6868 . 5614818 . 28578174.
  25. Dickson . Betsy . Mansfield . Chanel . Guiahi . Maryam . Allshouse . Amanda A. . Borgelt . Laura M. . Sheeder . Jeanelle . Silver . Robert M. . Metz . Torri D. . June 2018 . Recommendations From Cannabis Dispensaries About First-Trimester Cannabis Use . Obstetrics & Gynecology . en-US . 131 . 6 . 1031–1038 . 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002619 . 29742676 . 5970054 . 0029-7844.
  26. Metz . Torri D. . Clifton . Rebecca G. . Hughes . Brenna L. . Sandoval . Grecio J. . Grobman . William A. . Saade . George R. . Manuck . Tracy A. . Longo . Monica . Sowles . Amber . Clark . Kelly . Simhan . Hyagriv N. . Rouse . Dwight J. . Mendez-Figueroa . Hector . Gyamfi-Bannerman . Cynthia . Bailit . Jennifer L. . 2022-02-22 . Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Serious Maternal Morbidity and Mortality From Obstetric Complications . JAMA . 327 . 8 . 748–759 . 10.1001/jama.2022.1190 . 35129581 . 8822445 . 0098-7484.
  27. Cannabis Exposure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Related to Placental Function . 2024-01-12 . JAMA. 10.1001/jama.2023.21146 . 2023 . Metz . Torri D. . Allshouse . Amanda A. . McMillin . Gwendolyn A. . Greene . Tom . Chung . Judith H. . Grobman . William A. . Haas . David M. . Mercer . Brian M. . Parry . Samuel . Reddy . Uma M. . Saade . George R. . Simhan . Hyagriv N. . Silver . Robert M. . 330 . 22 . 2191–2199 . 38085313 . 10716715 . 266224086 .