Bio

Dr. Elaine Tonel

Dr. Elaine is a physician executive, consultant, educator, and leadership advisor who helps physicians expand their impact beyond clinical practice. Through executive coaching, career strategy, consulting education, and leadership development, she helps physicians think bigger, lead with confidence, and create meaningful careers aligned with their values.

Her work is grounded in the belief that medicine prepares physicians to care for patients—but rarely teaches them how to lead organizations, influence complex systems, or build fulfilling careers. She is passionate about helping physicians develop these capabilities so they can make a greater difference for their patients, organizations, and communities while flourishing in their own lives.

After completing her family medicine residency, Dr. Elaine realized that traditional clinical practice was not the only path to a meaningful career in medicine. She transitioned into Occupational and Environmental Medicine and went on to build a diverse career spanning clinical practice, corporate healthcare, consulting, insurance, public policy, and executive leadership.

Over the course of her career, she has served as a physician executive and trusted advisor to organizations across healthcare, insurance, energy, mining, pharmaceuticals, retail, and government. Today, she serves in a physician leadership role with California's Medicaid program, where she helps shape healthcare policy affecting millions of Californians. She also teaches as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Elaine is the founder of The Physician Expert Revolution, where she equips physicians with the leadership, consulting, and strategic thinking skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape.

She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and a Master of Science in Environmental Toxicology, bringing together clinical expertise with systems thinking and public health.

Dr. Elaine believes physicians are uniquely positioned to improve healthcare—not only through excellent patient care, but through thoughtful leadership, consulting, education, entrepreneurship, and public service.

Her mission is to help physicians build the skills, judgment, and confidence to lead wherever they are called to serve.

Because when physicians learn to think clearly, lead wisely, and improve systems, they don't just transform their own careers—they help transform healthcare itself.