Dr. Shirley MetzDO
Family Medicine
at DirectMed DPC — Lakeway, TX
About
Dr. Shirley Metz brings family and functional medicine to the Lakeway clinic, where she has practiced since relocating to Austin in 2018. Before medical school, she spent two years working as a chemist at a biotech company. She earned a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UC San Diego, then completed her medical degree at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. Her residency at the Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program in Chula Vista concluded in 2006, the year she served as co-chief resident.
Prior to Austin, Dr. Metz spent 13 years at Sharp Rees-Stealy in San Diego, one of the region's largest medical groups. Her osteopathic training shapes how she approaches care: she looks at the whole picture before reaching for a treatment. She emphasizes lifestyle foundations, shared decision-making, and chronic disease prevention. She has also trained with the Institute for Functional Medicine. Outside the clinic, Dr. Metz enjoys pickleball, weightlifting, travel, and spending time with her husband, three children, and dog Rocky.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
UC San Diego, B.S. Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Medical School
Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
Residency
Family Medicine, Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program, Chula Vista (co-chief resident)
Additional Training
Institute for Functional Medicine training
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Metz right for?
Dr. Metz is well-suited for adults who want a physician focused on preventing chronic disease and maximizing long-term health. Patients dealing with musculoskeletal injuries benefit from her hands-on osteopathic training and additional musculoskeletal expertise. She works well with patients who value shared decision-making and want a doctor who factors in lifestyle, supplements, and root causes. Her more than two decades of family medicine experience make her a reliable choice for patients with complex or layered health histories.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Metz treats a broad range of primary care conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and thyroid disorders. She also addresses chronic disease prevention and manages acute concerns. Her functional medicine training allows her to investigate root causes alongside conventional treatment.
Dr. Metz has completed training with the Institute for Functional Medicine. This training equips her to look beyond symptom management and explore lifestyle, nutrition, and metabolic factors that contribute to chronic illness. She applies this lens alongside her conventional family medicine practice.
Dr. Metz earned her medical degree at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. She then completed her residency at the Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program in Chula Vista, where she served as co-chief resident in her graduating year of 2006.
Dr. Metz completed her residency in 2006, giving her nearly two decades of clinical experience. She spent 13 years at Sharp Rees-Stealy in San Diego before joining DirectMed DPC in Lakeway in 2018.
Dr. Metz takes a whole-patient perspective rooted in her osteopathic training. She prioritizes lifestyle foundations and shared decision-making. Rather than defaulting immediately to medication, she examines contributing factors across nutrition, activity, and chronic disease history before recommending a treatment plan.
Dr. Metz practices family medicine, which means she sees patients across a wide range of ages. Families and adults looking for a consistent long-term physician are a natural fit for her practice at the Lakeway clinic.
Dr. Metz combines a background in biochemistry, osteopathic medical training, and Institute for Functional Medicine certification. Before becoming a physician, she worked as a chemist at a biotech company. That scientific depth informs how she investigates chronic and complex conditions.
Doctor profile last updated March 22, 2026