The first things you notice about Alison Elsner are her smile, her energy and her chic short blonde haircut. Describing herself as an empath, Elsner is passionate about many things, including health care and the welfare of animals.
Born in Portland, Ore., Elsner enjoyed what she described as an idyllic childhood. An only child, she moved with her parents to Southern California when she was 12. Their new home was in San Marino, just outside of Pasadena.
Elsner studied political science at the University of Southern California, and moved to Washington, D.C., to work for Sen. Pete Wilson after graduation.
“My original goal was to become an attorney,” Elsner said. “But I found that working in the political world in D.C. was so exciting, so fun—especially meeting all of these people.”
Elsner, now 61, said that in hindsight, she wishes she had obtained that law degree, but her political career took on a life of its own, and she doesn’t really have regrets.
When Wilson became governor of California in 1991, Elsner continued working for him, and she made the move back to the Golden State. Elsner was held over when Gray Davis was elected governor. Elsner was a moderate Republican during those years, she said, but is quick to say she is currently a firm independent.
She said there’s “no way” she could be a member of the Republican Party as it stands today. But during her career, she did get to attend four Republican National Conventions, back when their platform was, as she describes it, “less hateful.”
“It was amazingly exciting,” she said. “You saw every media person down on the floor, mixing it up in the pit. That was pretty heady stuff for a young person in their 20s.”
There were some downsides to the political world. “Every day, there was new crisis—a new fire to put out,” she said. The job also involved long hours, hard work, dealing with people with tempers, etc. Elsner said she and her co-workers often dealt with the stress by going and having a drink or two. The bonds she formed with her colleagues were strong.
“We were really in the trenches together; I’m friends for life with many of them,” she said.
Elsner added that those difficult experiences when she was young prepared her for later life. “Either it’s not as hard now, or I’m just well prepared,” Elsner said.
In 2002, Elsner moved to Palm Springs and began working for the Family YMCA of the Desert as public-relations director. Eventually, she became the organization’s associate executive director, for both the Palm Springs and Palm Desert locations. In 2011, Elsner was named executive director of the United Way of the Desert. In 2013, Elsner decided to fulfill her dream of starting her own public-relations firm. She loved it—but grew tired of having to chase people down to pay their bills.
In 2015, she became CEO of the San Bernardino County Medical Society, which is a county arm of the California Medical Association. Elsner has been there for nearly 10 years now and calls it her dream job. The organization advocates for physicians and organized medicine, and ensures access to care for patients in the community.
Elsner said she and her colleagues are extremely worried about proposed cuts to Medicaid, and possible cuts to Medicare. Not only would cuts affect access to care for patients; they’d take away jobs for physicians.
“If you don’t have doctors, guess what? You don’t have care,” she said.
Elsner does a lot of public presentations to doctors, medical residents and social services groups as part of her job, which she enjoys. It’s a bit of a full-circle moment for Elsner: Her father was the CEO of the California Medical Association. Though she grew up in the middle of the medical world, Elsner never thought that’s where her career path would lead.
“There’s a fine line sometimes between standing up for yourself and being rude. I admit I’m not always perfect with it. You just do the best you can.”
Alison Elsner, on being vegan and dealing with limited dining options
Elsner is a vegan, and her journey into veganism evolved over time. She said she started seeing posts on social media about it, and later visited a few animal sanctuaries, including The Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita.
“I realized, wow, these are sentient beings that have families and feelings. They go through pain and emotion like all of us,” she said. “I just can’t justify seeing their lives end just so I can enjoy a sandwich—but I’m working on becoming a bit more temperate. I’m sure I offend people sometimes with my passion on the subject, and that’s no way to win over converts. I’m finding my voice.”
Though cows are not killed for dairy products, Elsner said there is still cruelty involved. “They are repeatedly inseminated with machinery to impregnate them,” she said. “Their babies are taken away immediately after birth, which is traumatic. The cows are kept in extremely small enclosures on a rotating platform. ‘Peaceful pasture life’ is a fallacy.”
Veganism can be inconvenient and difficult to maintain, Elsner admitted, especially when at a party or at someone else’s home for dinner. “There’s a fine line sometimes between standing up for yourself and being rude,” she said. “I admit I’m not always perfect with it. You just do the best you can.”
Elsner said her veganism was a factor when she lost a lot of weight three years ago, as was the medication Tirzepatide.
In June 2020, Elsner was diagnosed with breast cancer, and had a double mastectomy. After rounds of chemo and radiation, she is now cancer-free. After her cancer journey, and living on this Earth for more than 60 years, Elsner said she’s really learned how to enjoy each moment to the fullest.
Traveling is one of Elsner’s passions, and when asked to describe her idea of heaven on Earth, she mentions being at an elephant or monkey sanctuary in Thailand or Vietnam. She said the people, energy, beauty, history and design aesthetic of both countries are fascinating.
Elsner’s bucket list includes writing a novel, going on a safari and seeing the gorillas in Rwanda. “I’d also like to open my own animal sanctuary—but I think I’d have to win the lottery for that!” she said, flashing that winning smile.
Bonnie Gilgallon has written theater reviews for the Independent since 2013. She hosts a digital interview show, The Desert Scene, which can be heard on www.thedesertscene.com and viewed on Mutual Broadcasting’s YouTube channel. Learn more at bonnie-g.com.