A Dentist’s Next Chapter Takes Him Home
After three decades in private practice, Rostyslav Stepanenko, DMD, is returning to Ukraine to volunteer his dental skills caring for the nation’s military veterans.
Rostyslav Stepanenko, DMD, has been practicing dentistry in Storrs, Connecticut, for the past 30 years. A general dentist, he owns his own practice with his wife Luba. That practice will close its doors for the last time on December 30, 2026. Thirty years dedicated to improving the oral health of fellow nutmeggers is a significant accomplishment, so why retire now?
Stepanenko and his wife are returning to their native Ukraine where he will volunteer his dental skills by serving members of the nation’s armed services. Between 800,000 and 900,000 Ukrainians currently serve in the nation’s military, which has been fighting a war against Russia since 2022.1 The conflict has resulted in the loss of more than 55,000 soldiers.2
According to Stepanenko, those serving on the front lines are without any dental care and rarely have access to basic oral hygiene tools such as toothbrushes. He will be volunteering at the Veterans’ Affairs Hospital providing implant and restorative therapy. Click here to read more.
References
- Council on Foreign Relations. Comparing the Size and Capabilities of the Russian and Ukrainian Militaries.
- Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, August 5, 2026.
