Published August 10, 2026, via Research News
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to share that Dr. Francis Sun, DVM, DACLAM, MBA, will leave WashU effective August 31 to become Assistant Dean and Director of the Animal Resources Program at Wake Forest University.
Since joining WashU in August 2024 as Associate Vice Chancellor for Veterinary Affairs and Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM), Francis has provided thoughtful and dedicated leadership to DCM. During his tenure, he has helped strengthen DCM’s operations and foster a more collaborative, responsive, and service-oriented culture. His commitment to animal welfare, research support, along with his dedication to WashU faculty and DCM staff, has made a meaningful impact across our research community.
I am grateful to Francis for his leadership and service to WashU, and I wish him continued success in his new role.
Effective September 1, Dr. Michael Drake, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, will serve as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Veterinary Affairs and Director of DCM.
Mike has been an integral member of DCM’s leadership team since joining WashU nearly a decade ago. He currently serves as Associate Director of DCM and Director of Small Animal Health Services, where he oversees the veterinary and technical staff responsible for clinical care, research support, the rodent health monitoring program, and operational management. He also helped establish Small Animal Health Services within the division.
Mike earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and PhD in pathobiology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is board-certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and accredited by USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. Throughout his career, he has held academic, veterinary, and operational leadership roles encompassing biomedical research, regulatory compliance, animal research oversight, clinical care, and laboratory animal medicine. His experience, institutional knowledge, and longstanding commitment to the WashU research community position him well to lead DCM during this transition.
Please join me in thanking Francis for his service and congratulating Mike on his interim appointment.
Sincerely,
Mark Lowe, MD, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Research
Senior Associate Dean of Research, School of Medicine
Harvey R. Colten Professor of Pediatric Science
Washington University in St. Louis