Feature Story
A Consecrated Journey: Jacob Taloa Earns Prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship for Medical School
For Jacob Taloa (‘23), becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college was a remarkable achievement. He never imagined that milestone would be followed by medical school and one of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors from Phi Kappa Phi.
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, recently awarded Taloa an $8,500 fellowship to pursue medical school at the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine this fall in Provo, Utah. Taloa is the fourth Southern Virginia University student to receive this national distinction, following Jacob Wood (‘23), Jaden Nelson (‘23), and Adam Leone (‘20).
For Taloa, receiving the fellowship is the latest milestone in a journey he describes as unexpected, yet beautifully directed by the Lord.
“My journey to becoming a doctor felt like a huge coincidence,” said Taloa. “During my junior year, I stopped by Dr. Sam Hirt’s office and he asked if I ever considered becoming a doctor. I told him no because it was too much work and no one in my family has ever done it. Just graduating with a bachelor’s degree felt like a miracle. But he just smiled at me, so I thought I should look into it. Then I saw all the expenses and didn’t think it was possible since I already had a family to provide for.”
A few days later, his uncle Ed Mulitalo, then SVU’s head football coach, also encouraged him to explore becoming a doctor. Shortly after, Taloa’s sister called to tell him about osteopathic medicine after learning about it herself and thinking it could be something he’d be interested in.
“In a matter of weeks, three different people suggested that I go to medical school,” Taloa recalled. “Observing this pattern, I prayed about it and talked to my wife, and we felt like the calling to medicine was hard to ignore. I never had a desire to become a doctor, but what led me there was being in an environment surrounded by mentors who were in tune with the Spirit. SVU is such a sacred place, and I am convinced I went there at the time I did so that the trajectory of my future could be nourished and guided by great mentors.”
As he continued seeking confirmation that he was on the right path, another meaningful discovery helped with his decision. While doing family history work, Taloa discovered that his Samoan great-grandmother and Filipino great-grandfather had been revered village healers, reinforcing his belief that he was on the right path.
After graduating from SVU with a degree in biochemistry, a minor in psychology, and a 4.0 GPA, Taloa became the first member of his family to earn a college degree and received the University’s Pioneer Award.
He later completed a 10-week Pacific Islander Research internship before working as a research associate in the University of Utah’s molecular medicine program.
Although accepted into several medical schools, Taloa found himself struggling to decide between the University of Utah and the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. He and his wife took that decision to the temple and felt impressed to choose Noorda.
“Plenty of my research mentors and my clinical supervisors told me that the name of the University of Utah alone on my resume would get me far in my medical career,” Taloa said. “But I felt that my whole journey to medical school had been directed by the Lord. I feel like choosing Noorda with a confirmed answer in the temple would follow the same pattern that has led me here.”
“It is indeed a very ‘faith-based’ decision, but I am willing to see it through by consecrating my efforts and works to Him,” continued Taloa. “At the end of the day, I hope my journey stands as a testimony that will help others put trust in the Lord and glorify His name in all that they do.”