Lierman named board chairman of UM medical school’s virology institute

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The former chief of staff for U.S. House of Representatives Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer has been named chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Terry Lierman, who left Hoyer’s office in December, replaces former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as chair. Townsend will continue as a member of the board.

In a statement, institute Director Robert C. Gallo called Lierman one of the most influential people in Washington.

“I am looking forward to Terry’s contributions to the board as he applies his terrific leadership skills, vast entrepreneurial and political experience, and broad capabilities for problem-solving and bringing people together,” Gallo said.

Lierman currently runs venture capital company Health Ventures International and chairs Rockville-based CSGI Inc., the parent company of CTIS Inc., a global health information technology company.

He began his career at the U.S. National Institutes of Health in 1971, where he assisted in budget and policy development, grants and contracts and also has served as chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party.

“I have had the privilege and opportunity to combine politics, policy, and management, and to create a wide variety of ventures to promote better health care,” Lierman said in a statement. “I am thrilled to be able to support the exceptional work of Dr. Gallo and the world-class scientific and patient care teams at [the Institute of Human Virology] as they seek breakthrough discoveries in medical science and create new models of patient care.”