PEER Challenge

The 2026 PEER Challenge is underway

We saw strong starts in the Qualifying Round for Penn State Health, Vanderbilt University, UC San Diego, and Jefferson Health Northeast.

PEER Challenge Bracket (Round 1) PDF ↑

The competition continues with Round 1 on July 9.

PEER Challenge Bracket: Round 1 (PDF)

The PEER Challenge is a single elimination tournament that matches up residency programs against each other in a showdown of clinical knowledge.

The winning program is crowned after a live competition, the PEER Ultimate Championship, each year at ACEP Scientific Assembly. In addition to valuable bragging rights, the grand prize includes a full year of complimentary PEER for Programs.

The 2026 Schedule

Inquire about the competition at peer@acep.org.

June 4 (Thursday) | 4 pm CT — Qualifying Round
July 9 (Thursday) | 4 pm CT — Round 1
August 6 (Thursday) | 4 pm CT — Round 2
September 3 (Thursday) | 4 pm CT — Round 3
October 5 (Monday) — Semi-Finals at ACEP26
October 6 (Tuesday) — Finals at ACEP26

The Competition

Each round features clinical questions from the PEER suite of board prep content. Every match will be moderated by one of the PEER Editors-in-Chief.

Speed matters — the quicker a question is answered, the more points earned.

Multiple residents from each program can play in the first three rounds — the program’s score is averaged, and different residents can play in each round.

PEER Board Prep

The Prizes

Complimentary ACEP26 registration for four residents from each of the final four residency programs
Free PEER for Programs for the entire winning program for the 2027-2028 academic year
Bragging rights for an entire year, plus some championship bling!

The 2025 Winners

Good Samaritan University Hospital in New York

Christopher DiNicola, DO
Sunil Shah, MD, MBA
Sherif Shehata, MD
Arthur Speziale, DO

The 2024 Winners

The inaugural competition resulted in a tie:

Good Samaritan University Hospital in New York

Paxton P. Aung, DO
Sunil Shah, MD, MBA
Sherif Shehata, MD
Arthur Speziale, DO

University of Central Florida/HCA Florida Healthcare

Natalie Diers, MD
Drake Dixon, MD
Darielys Mejias Morales, MD
Nicole Vuong, MD