After many long years of competing from behind computer screens, the CHEST Challenge Championship is back, live and in person.

Designed to be the ultimate mix of education and entertainment, this event will test the clinical knowledge of fellows from training programs across the United States. The three trainee teams will compete in a fast-paced Jeopardy-style challenge for the chance to win prizes, including $5,000 for their training program.

CHEST Challenge has been engaging fellows and audience members alike for 21 years—and although the landmark 20th anniversary of this event passed in 2021, celebrations are likely to continue as we all meet again live and in person for the CHEST Challenge Championship, sponsored by VIATRIS, Tuesday, October 18, at 7:30 pm, at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Pandemic pivots

With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear to planners of CHEST Challenge that they needed new ways to engage and educate—without losing the excitement and energy of this capstone event of the CHEST Annual Meeting.

“CHEST Challenge has always been about innovation in medical education,” said Mauricio Danckers, MD, FCCP, Chair of the Training and Transitions Committee. “Two decades of history allowed us to push the boundaries into the online arena, allowing competitors to play from their own institutions, the audience to join from home, and the camaraderie and support characteristics of the CHEST community to transcend virtual barriers.”

These innovations included the administration of virtual proctoring by judges and the creation of a virtual watch party that enabled audience members to engage with one another via the chat room while rooting for their favorite champions. Although the event always has been a favorite among attendees at the annual meeting, the virtual option increased viewership, bringing the competition and clinical education to entirely new audiences.

Choosing the champions

This year’s CHEST Challenge Championship will pit teams from NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist, Mayo Clinic, and Brooke Army Medical Center against each other for the Rosen Cup (among other covetable prizes).

The fun began with a series of Twitter challenges designed to build excitement for the championship and encourage physicians-in-training to engage with one another online by sharing their responses to a host of unique prompts. This year’s social media challenge asked fellows to share everything from pet selfies to poems about how participants preserved their well-being during the pandemic.

The final challengers were then selected based on their performance on a demanding, 50-question quiz testing their knowledge in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Institution scores were based on the top two quiz takers from each organization.

From online to on-site

The hallmark collegiality and competition of the championship will always remain the same, but audience members can expect a different championship at CHEST 2022 than they’ve previously seen online or in person.

“Our 20th anniversary broadcast during CHEST 2021 was our most innovative, had the most generous prizes, and the largest, most interactive audience to date,” said CHEST Challenge MC William Kelly, MD, FCCP. “Our team of amazing committee members, CHEST staff, and contributors are somehow going even bigger this year! When combining never-before-seen challenges, surprises, giveaways, and a special ‘opening act’ with the joy and energy of all of us being back together again in person—I just can’t wait.”

Learn more about CHEST Challenge in the September issue of the CHEST Physician^® publication.