Sen. John Edwards (R-N.C.) has tapped health care lobbyist Mary Beth Donahue to serve as the chief of staff of his vice presidential campaign operation.

Donahue, a Massachusetts native, joins the Edwards campaign from America’s Health Insurance Plans, where she had served as vice president of government relations since September 2001.

Before becoming a health care lobbyist, Donahue worked in the Clinton administration’s Health and Human Services Department, including a stint as chief of staff to then-Secretary Donna Shalala.

In 1992, Donahue worked on the presidential campaign of President Bill Clinton.

— Brody Mullins