A desire to learn brought Edgar Galeano from Colombia to Winnipeg
The 2025 recipient of the Ruth Asper Scholarship in Kinesiology and Recreation wants his work to change as many lives as possible
Dr. Edgar Galeano says learning something new is what makes him feel alive. It’s part of the reason why he paused his 20-plus-year career as a doctor in Colombia, to come to Winnipeg and study in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management.
“There are so many things to achieve during a career,” says the first-year master’s student. “There is always a sense of wanting to know more and how to use this knowledge to solve real problems.”
Galeano is the latest recipient of the Ruth Asper Scholarship in Kinesiology and Recreation Management, which helps support graduate student research and training within the faculty. Galeano says receiving the award is not just an honour, but a call to action.
“I feel like it’s a big commitment to show how this research can impact the world,” he says. “And as an international student, it’s a big opportunity to show my work and to inspire others.”
Galeano is being advised by Rodrigo Villar, an Assistant Professor and primary investigator of the Cardiorespiratory and Physiology of Exercise Research Lab. Galeano says his focus is on exploring how progressive strength training can affect or counteract the frailty process that comes with age.
“Everyone probably has someone in their life right now who is facing frailty, and they might be asking how they can help,” he says. “Exercise is how I can help.”
Galeano says his interest in the area began with his work in healthcare. Galeano, born in Bogota, Colombia, studied sports medicine at El Bosque University. His interest in the human body led him to work with Olympic athletes, something he found exciting but limited.
“Olympic athletes are less than one per cent of the general population, a very small number of individuals,” says Galeano. “But when you’re helping people with frailty, you can impact people not only here in Manitoba or Canada, but worldwide.”
Galeano says he came across Villar’s work and the work of other labs across the university during his career specializing in sports medicine. Working with Villar was an opportunity to expand both his knowledge and impact.
“I want to know how exercise works, how it can help people and how we can give people those tools, so they’re prepared for the frailty that comes with age,” Galeano says.
Villar says Galeano is an excellent addition to the lab and someone they are all privileged to work alongside.
“His dedication, perseverance and resilience inspire both me and other students,” Villar says. “Receiving the Ruth Asper Scholarship is well deserved and testifies to the quality of research that Edgar will be conducting in our lab.”
For his part, Galeano says he is extremely grateful to Ruth Asper for selecting him and his work. He says the scholarship allows him to fully focus on his work and keep learning.