Doctor Steffen was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1926. After attending Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He received his MD degree from St Louis University in 1950, following which he completed a dermatology residency at the Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital. He is certified by the American Board of Dermatology and has a subspecialty in dermatopathology.

He has practiced both dermatology and dermatopathology for over 54 years, specialties that he loves. He has published over 100 papers in the field, including historical presentations. Doctor Steffen has published a textbook on neoplasms with sebaceous differentiation and has contributed a chapter on neoplasm with sebaceous differentiation for another text.

He recalls many pleasant associations in medicine, but the most interesting and lasting friendship was with A. Bernard Ackerman, which lasted 30 years, until Ackerman's untimely death. He was the most brilliant man whom I have known, but he was laden with many mental problems. It was and is still amazing the he could have carried on, despite being laden with many mental problems; he exhibited a jovial and winning exterior. He was, and remains an inspiration for me who has his own particular ghosts.