On January 8, 2011, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot in an assassination attempt. Having been critically wounded after suffering a single gunshot wound to the head, she and many of the other 18 wounded individuals were promptly evacuated by helicopter to this facility. Giffords underwent emergency surgery by doctor Peter M. Rhee to save her life and many attribute her survival to the swift actions of the university's doctors. After her condition improved, doctors deemed her safe to travel so that she could begin speech, physical, and occupational therapy. Giffords was flown by plane to Houston's Memorial Hermann Medical Center on January 21, 2011, to continue therapy. In total, 6 people died in the shooting, including federal District Court Chief Judge John Roll; Gabe Zimmerman, one of Rep. Giffords' staffers; and a nine-year-old girl, Christina-Taylor Green.