Team Health Holdings Inc. (NYSE: TMH), the seventh-largest healthcare staffing provider, appointed Miles Snowden, M.D., as the company’s chief medical officer effective Sept. 15. He replaces Gar LaSalle, M.D., who retired from the position earlier this year.

Snowden most recently served as chief medical officer for Optum, the health services division of UnitedHealth Group. As a member of the executive clinical leadership team of UnitedHealth Group, he represented the enterprise in industry venues, as well as with leaders of organized medicine, clients, regulators, legislators and investors. Prior to his role as chief medical officer, Snowden led national clinical product development, delivery and consulting for the commercial business with United Healthcare while concurrently leading the company's southeast region client management organization.

Before joining UnitedHealth Group, Snowden was chief medical officer at Delta Air Lines. Earlier in his career, he spent 14 years in the private practice of internal medicine in Louisville, Ky., and was the founder and medical director of an occupational health consulting business.

“TeamHealth’s CMO plays a critical role in improving the overall quality of patient care provided by our affiliated physicians and advanced practice clinicians,” said co-founder and Chairman Lynn Massingale. “After an extensive nationwide search, we selected Dr. Snowden for his successful track record in improving patient outcomes and commitment to developing the health of communities.”

Knoxville, Tenn.-based Team Health ranks No. 7 on Staffing Industry Analysts’ list of largest healthcare staffing providers.