Katherine Gibson-Corley, DVM, PhD, who has been serving as Associate Director of Comparative Pathology within the Animal Care and Use Program and Director of Comparative Pathology and Research Histology in the Translational Pathology Shared Resource, has been chosen to serve as Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology.
Gibson-Corley succeeds Jeanne Wallace, DVM, Vice President for Animal Care and Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine, who is retiring at the end of the academic year after 20 years of service to Vanderbilt Health.
As Division Director for the DCM, Gibson-Corley, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology and Professor of Surgery, will lead the academic home for faculty members who have service effort (administrative, clinical or diagnostic pathology) in the Division of Animal Care or the Office of Animal Welfare Assurance.
DCM is a cooperative, interdisciplinary research and teaching center that focuses on a branch of experimental medicine that includes the study of naturally occurring and experimental animal models of human disease; the etiopathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy and prevention of infectious and noninfectious diseases of laboratory animals; the normal biology of laboratory animals; and the other research applications of animals and related biotechnology.
The mission of the DCM is to advance knowledge and improve the health and well-being of humans and animals through independent or collaborative biomedical research that uses animal models of human disease, postgraduate research/service training of veterinarians, and the provision of an animal care program that exceeds the highest national standards.
“Dr. Gibson-Corley is an outstanding leader and accomplished scientist whose expertise in comparative pathology has advanced translational research in meaningful ways,” said Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President for Research for Vanderbilt Health and holder of the Brock Family Directorship in Career Development. “She is also a dedicated mentor with a strong commitment to career development, fostering the next generation of investigators. Her collaborative approach and vision will further strengthen the Division of Comparative Medicine and its impact on both human and animal health.”
Gibson-Corley’s career has centered on advancing comparative and translational pathology through interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific rigor and programmatic leadership. Prior to joining Vanderbilt Health in 2020, she served as Director of the Comparative Pathology Laboratory and Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Pathology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.
Gibson-Corley’s research focuses on the application of comparative pathology to animal models of human disease, with expertise in cancer biology, neuro- and ocular pathology, and immunopathology. She is recognized for integrating histopathologic insight into translational research, and supporting both basic science and clinically oriented investigations, and she has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications. She is also an active member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, contributing to the advancement of the field through professional service, collaboration and engagement within the veterinary pathology community.
“I’m honored to step into this role and build on the strong foundation of the Division of Comparative Medicine,” said Gibson-Corley. “I’m especially passionate about fostering a collaborative, supportive environment where faculty can thrive while advancing innovative research that improves the health and well-being of both humans and animals.”
Gibson-Corley earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology from St. Olaf College and doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine and in veterinary pathology from Iowa State University.
