Dr. Arthur C. Christie enjoyed a notable career in radiology covering some forty years and exerting an incalculable influence upon the specialty.
Arthur Carlisle Christie, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R. — 1879-1956
Arthur Carlisle Christie was born in West Sunbury, Penna., Dec. 29, 1879, the son of Dr. Milton H. Christie and Harriet Rhodes Christie. The son of a practicing physician in a rural area, he was associated with medicine throughout his life. His early education was in the public schools of Corry, Penna. He was granted his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1904 by the Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons (now incorporated in Western Reserve University Medical School).
For a brief period, Dr. Christie practiced medicine in Clymer, N. Y. Leaving his general practice, he attended the Army Medical School in Washington, D. C., and was graduated as a First Lieutenant in 1907. He served on active duty in the Philippines and at various posts in the United States and, while on service at Columbus Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, became interested in radiology. Ordered to the Army Medical School as Professor of Roentgenology and Operative Surgery, he served in that capacity from 1912 to 1916. Thus starting in the infancy of a new specialty, Dr. Christie devoted his medical life to radiology. One of the earliest contributions to radiological literature in English was his Manual of X-ray Technic published in 1913.
In 1916 Dr. Christie resigned his commission and became associated with Dr. Thomas A. Groover in the practice of radiology in Washington, D. C. In the following year, he was commissioned a Major in the Medical Reserve Corps. Appointed Chief of the Division of Roentgenology of the Medical Department, U. S. Army, he organized this Division entirely from Reserve personnel, an outstanding achievement. He was commissioned Colonel in 1918 and served as Senior Consultant in Roentgenology, A.E.F., France, from October 1918 to February 1919.
After the First World War, Dr. Christie returned to his civilian practice with Dr. Groover, and in 1919 Dr. E. A. Merritt became associated with the two.
With his Professorship of Roentgenology at the Army Medical School in 1912, Dr. Christie began his teaching career. He was later Professor of Roentgenology at George Washington University School of Medicine and Professor of Clinical Radiology at Georgetown University Medical School. He contributed freely of his time as teacher, consultant, and adviser and, because of his warm, kindly, and thoughtful nature, old and young looked to him for advice concerning their personal careers and problems.
Dr. Christie was closely associated with almost all phases of the development of radiology from 1912 to the very end of his career. This is well attested by his enormous bibliography. Besides writing extensively, he devoted much time to lectures and conferences on numerous medical and medicosocial subjects. He held membership in many medical organizations and served frequently on their official boards. He was a past President of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia; Fellow of the American Medical Association and of the American College of Physicians; past President of the American Roentgen Ray Society; member of the Radiological Society of North America; Fellow and past President of the American College of Radiology, which he helped to organize, and a recipient of its Gold Medal.
From 1924 to 1929 Dr. Christie was Editor of the American Journal of Roentgenology and Radium Therapy. In 1937 he was the President of the Fifth International Congress of Radiology and through that office formed many friendships with radiologists of all countries, friendships which persisted through the years. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Radiologists of Great Britain and was elected to honorary membership by most of the leading radiological societies of the world.
Nationally and internationally known and honored as a radiologist, Doctor Christie always stressed the fact that the specialist must be first, last, and always a physician, with all that this means in the broadest and best sense.
Dr. Christie was an ardent churchman, giving of his talents to Church, Sunday School, and the V.M.e.A. He was for some years President of the Board of Trustees of the American University (Washington) and recently gave many lectures before civic groups. His talk on the Constitution of the United States, "Faith of Our Fathers," is widely known.
Arthur Carlisle Christie had a capacity for friendship that was unique, a deep faith in the progress of medicine and science and, above all, in humanity. He was courageous in his fight for what he believed to be right in his profession, his religion, and in society. Those who knew him best will feel his loss most deeply, but a host of others will honor and respect his memory.