In 1991, Oleksandr Stepanenko graduated with honors from the Pediatric Faculty of the Kharkiv Medical Institute (KMI; in 1994 renamed Kharkiv State Medical University, KSMU; in 2007, Kharkiv National Medical University, KNMU) with a qualification in pediatric medicine. From 1991 to 1994, he completed postgraduate studies in the Department of Histology, Cytology, and Embryology at KMI/KSMU. In 1997, he defended his Candidate of Science dissertation, earning a Candidate of Medical Sciences degree (comparable to the Academic Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, PhD).
Since 1994, he has held teaching positions: from 1994 to 1997, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Operative Surgery and Topographic Anatomy at Kharkiv State Medical University; from 1997 to 2000, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Histology, Cytology, and Embryology at KSMU; from 2000 to 2014, as an Associate Professor; and from 2014 to 2024, as the Head of the Department of Histology, Cytology, and Embryology at KNMU.
In 2002, he earned the academic title of Associate Professor of the Histology, Cytology, and Embryology Department at KSMU. In 2018, he defended his Doctor of Science dissertation and in 2019 was awarded the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences. In 2022, he received the academic title of Professor of the Histology, Cytology, and Embryology Department at KNMU.
He has supervised one candidate of sciences and one Ph.D. candidate and serves as a scientific consultant for a Doctor of Sciences dissertation. He has chaired three special academic councils for Ph.D. thesis defenses and served as an official opponent for four Ph.D. theses. He held the position of Scientific Secretary (2008-2012) and a member (2022-2024) of the D 64.600.03 specialized academic council. He is also a member of the editorial board of the medical scientific-practical journal Neonatology, Surgery, and Perinatal Medicine (Category “A”).