Name: Dr. Debra L. Steele

Specialty: Neurosurgery (General Neurosurgery)

Qualification/Board Certification:  University of Nebraska College of Medicine; WA State Medical License (Active through 2027)

Affiliation(s): Kadlec Regional Medical Center

Locations (City/State): Richland, Washington

Languages Spoken: English

Accepting New Patients: Yes

NPI Number: 1538147517

About the Doctor

Dr. Debra L. Steele is a highly accomplished and exceptionally well-regarded neurosurgeon based in Richland, Washington, with over 20 years of experience in the surgical management of brain, spinal, and nervous system disorders. She earned her medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, a respected Midwestern academic medical institution, and pursued her post-graduate training at two of the nation’s most prestigious medical centers — completing a Transitional Year Internship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (1998–1999), one of the world’s leading cancer treatment and research institutions, and her Neurological Surgery Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (1999–2004), a globally recognized academic neurosurgical training program.

Dr. Steele currently practices at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, a large multispecialty group practice where she works alongside specialists in cardiology, family medicine, and advanced practice nursing to provide comprehensive neurosurgical care to patients in the Tri-Cities region of Washington State and the broader Pacific Northwest. She has demonstrated above-average treatment volumes in lower back pain, neck pain and spine problems, and thoracic spine disorders compared to the Washington state average, reflecting her deep surgical expertise in the full spectrum of spinal conditions. Dr. Steele holds an outstanding overall patient satisfaction rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 49 verified reviews from a total of 570 patient reviews received, and has earned four distinguished patient awards including Patients’ Top Choice, Clearly Explains, and Performs Thorough Exams. She accepts Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Elevance, Molina, and United Healthcare, and is currently welcoming new patients.

Highlights at a glance:

• Over 20 years of experience in general neurosurgery
• Neurological Surgery Residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center — a globally recognized academic neurosurgical program
• Transitional Year Internship at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center — one of the world’s top cancer institutions
• Above-average treatment volumes in lower back pain, neck and spine problems, and thoracic spine disorders in Washington
• Exceptional 4.9/5 overall patient satisfaction rating based on 49 verified reviews from 570 total patient reviews
• Four patient experience awards including Patients’ Top Choice and Clearly Explains
• Practices within Kadlec Regional Medical Center — a large multispecialty healthcare group
• Multi-state licensure history across Washington, New York, Texas, Wyoming, and Colorado
• Accepts Medicaid and multiple major commercial insurance plans
• Active Washington State Medical License through 2027
• Currently accepting new patients

Education & Training

• Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
• Internship: Transitional Year – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (1998–1999)
• Residency: Neurological Surgery – University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (1999–2004)
• Subspecialty Focus: General Neurosurgery with particular expertise in spinal surgery, including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions

Medical Conditions Treated

• Spinal stenosis (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar)
• Spondylosis and degenerative disc disease
• Herniated discs (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar)
• Lower back pain and lumbar spine disorders
• Neck pain and cervical spine conditions
• Thoracic spine disorders and mid-back conditions
• Spondylolisthesis and spinal instability
• Brain tumors and intracranial masses
• Spinal cord tumors and spinal neoplasms
• Brain bleeds and intracranial hemorrhage
• Head trauma and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord trauma and injury
• Chiari malformation
• Hydrocephalus and intracranial pressure disorders
• Peripheral nerve disorders and nerve entrapment
• Trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain disorders
• Carotid artery disease requiring surgical evaluation
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and vascular brain disorders

Medical Procedures Performed

• Spinal decompression surgery (laminectomy, laminotomy)
• Spinal fusion surgery (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
• Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS)
• Discectomy (cervical and lumbar)
• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
• Posterior cervical fusion and instrumentation
• Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for compression fractures
• Craniotomy for brain tumor resection
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) evaluation and coordination
• Intracranial pressure monitoring and management
• Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement for hydrocephalus
• Spinal cord stimulation implantation
• Peripheral nerve decompression and repair
• Stereotactic radiosurgery coordination
• Intracranial hemorrhage evacuation
• Neuronavigation-assisted surgery
• Post-surgical neurosurgical rehabilitation coordination

Services Offered

Dr. Steele provides a comprehensive and highly specialized range of neurosurgical services at Kadlec Regional Medical Center, with particular depth in spinal neurosurgery across all regions of the spine — cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. Her training at two of the nation’s most distinguished medical institutions, combined with over two decades of surgical experience, positions her as one of the most capable and trusted neurosurgeons in the Pacific Northwest. Her nearly perfect patient satisfaction rating and recognition for clear communication reflect a practice culture that prioritizes patient understanding, safety, and exceptional outcomes.

Spinal Neurosurgery:

With above-average treatment volumes across all three major regions of the spine — lower back, cervical, and thoracic — in Washington State, Dr. Steele is a highly experienced spinal neurosurgeon. She evaluates and treats the full range of spinal conditions including stenosis, herniated discs, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative disc disease, offering both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques tailored to each patient’s specific anatomy, severity of disease, and functional goals.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery:

Dr. Steele employs advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques that reduce surgical trauma, minimize blood loss, shorten hospital stays, and accelerate recovery. These approaches are particularly beneficial for patients with degenerative spinal conditions who require surgical intervention but wish to minimize procedural risk and downtime.

Brain Tumor & Cranial Surgery:

Drawing on her training at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and UT Southwestern, Dr. Steele evaluates and surgically manages brain tumors, intracranial masses, and vascular brain disorders, performing craniotomies and neuronavigation-assisted resections with precision and care.

Trauma & Emergency Neurosurgery:

Dr. Steele manages acute neurosurgical emergencies including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, intracranial hemorrhage, and elevated intracranial pressure, providing rapid surgical intervention and coordinated critical care management.

Peripheral Nerve & Pain Surgery:

Dr. Steele evaluates and treats peripheral nerve entrapment conditions and chronic pain disorders requiring surgical intervention, including spinal cord stimulator implantation and nerve decompression procedures for patients with refractory pain.

Services at a glance:

• Comprehensive neurosurgical evaluations and consultations
• Spinal decompression surgery (laminectomy, discectomy)
• Spinal fusion surgery (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
• Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS)
• Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for compression fractures
• Brain tumor evaluation and cranial surgery
• Intracranial hemorrhage evacuation
• VP shunt placement for hydrocephalus
• Spinal cord stimulation implantation
• Peripheral nerve decompression and repair
• Traumatic brain injury and spinal cord trauma management
• Neuronavigation-assisted surgical procedures
• Stereotactic radiosurgery coordination
• Post-surgical neurosurgical rehabilitation coordination
• Second opinions for complex spinal and cranial conditions

Accepted Insurances

• Aetna – EPO, HMO, Medicare, POS, PPO
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan – HMO, POS, PPO
• Cigna – PPO
• Elevance (formerly Anthem) – EPO, HMO, Medicare, POS, PPO
• ID State Medicaid – Medicaid
• Kaiser Permanente – HMO, PPO
• Molina – HMO, Medicare
• United Healthcare – HMO, Medicare, POS, PPO

Please contact the practice directly to confirm your specific plan is accepted before scheduling an appointment.

Practice Locations

Location 1 Address: 1100 Goethals Dr, Richland, WA 99352 Phone: (509) 942-3080

Hospital Affiliations

No specific hospital affiliations are listed beyond her group practice affiliation. Dr. Steele practices within Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Please contact the practice directly for the most up-to-date hospital affiliation information.