 In New York, he worked as chief medical resident at Yonkers General Hospital (1966–68), continued to play jazz and attended the Juilliard School of Music studying with Homer Mensch (1968–69).Christie has played with a variety of fellow jazz musicians including Ahmad Jamal, Jaki Byard, Chet Baker, Paul Winter, Buddy Rich, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Tal Farlow and many others.In the 1970s he established a teaching position and eventually became Director Emeritus of Jazz Studies at Westchester Conservatory in New York State.