SLUCare, the physicians group of St. Louis University, has hired Gary Van House at its new CEO, according to a news release.

Van House, whose age wasn't provided, started on Nov. 1 at SLUCare, which counts more than 500 members in the St. Louis area. He's the former chief executive director at Columbia Park Medical Group, a four-clinic group in the Minneapolis area. He also served as the COO of Park Nicollet Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Van House replaces Kate Becker, who left in September 2011 for the president's job at SSM St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis. Dr. Philip Alderson, the VP for medical affairs at Saint Louis University and dean of its school of medicine, had served as the interim CEO.