Memphis, TN 11/01/11 - Challenger Corporation, the nation’s foremost clinical training and testing company, announced today the results of a second formal three year review of initial boards pass rates for graduating residents in programs using Challenger training and evaluation systems. The results, based on comparing pass rates for residents on the initial specialty exams in pediatrics, internal medicine, and family medicine, show a validated gain of ten percentage points on average for test takers who graduated from residencies using the Challenger® Program for Residencies (CPR™). This result is a fundamental confirmation of the findings from a previous study published in 2010 based on a smaller sample size of reviewed program.

The review looked at test scores from 2008 through 2010. National average pass rates for these specialties were available from online sources and from information provided by physician organizations involved with residency training. The Challenger comparative sample consisted at the time of 114 family medicine residencies, 20 internal medicine residencies, and 10 pediatric residencies. The Challenger resident basis has grown substantially over the past year, but only residencies with at least three years of data were included in the study. The test comparisons used a formal measure known as Cohen’s effect size to determine whether application of the Challenger system could be associated with a valid training effect, in this case as reflected in pass rates on the initial boards exam.

According to Challenger CEO, Bob Sweeney, "These findings are conclusive. We can assert without reservation that residencies using our methods as part of their curriculum and evaluation methodology will graduate residents who do significantly better on the initial boards exam in these specialties. In conjunction with earlier findings that graduates of the Challenger® Program for PA Training (CPPAT™) succeed more often on the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE), we now have results that support our claims of a demonstrable favorable impact on training outcomes across the board. The only thing different about these programs from an overall perspective is that they’ve been using CPR™ or CPPAT™ for the last three years."

Challenger delivers testing and training materials with an integrated proprietary management reporting system, Challenger StatPak™, to over 250 residencies and physician assistant training programs nationwide, and in four other countries—India, Australia, Malaysia, and Canada.

Challenger owns the world’s largest collection of approved electronic CME media, comprising over 3,800 peer-reviewed hours of credit. Thousands of American physicians and other clinicians rely upon Challenger materials to prepare for specialty board exams, recertification, maintenance of certification, and lifelong learning. Challenger serves the educational and training needs of over 400,000 practicing American primary care and hospital-based physicians and nearly 70,000 physician assistants. Challenger products are approved for physician CME credit through joint sponsorships with the University of Colorado School of Medicine and three specialty societies.

Challenger Corporation
5100 Poplar Avenue Ste. 1410
Memphis, Tennessee 38137
Tel: (901) 762-8449