Fabio Minozzo: Personal Best

Dr. Fabio Minozzo likes to keep moving. 

For Dr. Fabio Minozzo, movement is more than a passion; it’s a way of life. Whether he’s pushing through kilometre 98 of his weekly run or encouraging students to dive into the rhythm of human physiology, Fabio brings energy, commitment, and discipline to everything he does.

Born in Brazil, Fabio’s journey has taken him from São Paulo to Montreal, where he completed a PhD and postdoctoral studies, and eventually to Northwestern Polytechnic, where he joined the faculty in 2018. Today, he serves as an Instructor in the Kinesiology and Health Sciences department. In addition to lecturing, Fabio is also a dedicated long-distance runner who logs over 100 kilometres each week, and has completed multiple marathons and triathlons. His personal best? A 3:02 finish at the Edmonton Marathon in 2025. He also checked off a major bucket list item this past year by completing the Boston Marathon. “It wasn’t my best time,” he admits with a smile, “but I loved it.”

Before arriving in Canada, Fabio was a competitive triathlete, having started as a young swimmer before transitioning to strength training and then triathlon. His years of experience on the international circuit inform the lessons he brings into the classroom. “Motivation comes and goes,” he says. “Discipline is king. That’s the most important skill.”It’s a lesson he shares with students in courses like biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology, with the latter being his favourite. “Anatomy is the grammar and physiology is the poetry, the music,” he explains. “Exercise physiology is my passion.

Despite his busy teaching schedule and training routine, Fabio is also working toward his next professional milestone: a potential sabbatical at Harvard University. After a recent trip to Boston, he’s in the process of applying to conduct muscle research at the Boston Children’s Hospital. The opportunity represents both a personal and academic dream.

Fabio and his wife Renata, along with their children Lucca (9) and Mia (6), have embraced life in Grande Prairie. While trading São Paulo’s 20 million people for a smaller city took some adjusting, he was struck by the community’s warmth and the friendliness of his Albertan neighbours. “The cold was the biggest shock,” he jokes, remembering a -39 °C day shortly after arriving, but the change for his kids to grow up in a safe, close-knit neighbourhood has made the move worth it. 

Teaching at NWP offers something different, too. 

“The classes are smaller, you can talk to the kids,” he says. That personal connection, paired with his love of teaching and movement, keeps him energized and focused on the future.

His family remains at the heart of it all. “They’re the centre of my life,” he says. And they understand the role running plays in keeping Fabio at his best - physically, mentally, and professionally. “If you’re going through something, you might as well run, then you’re miserable and healthy,” he says. “If you don’t run, you’re just miserable.”