Christa Gilley biography: 13 things about Houston, Texas physical therapy specialist

Who was Christa Gilley?

Christa Nicole Bauer Gilley was an American cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy specialist from Houston, Texas, United States. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA to Chris Bauer and Sharon Bauer.

Gilley was an alumna of Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, USA, where she met Lee Mongerson Gilley. She also attended the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.

Christa was the eldest of four sisters. Her younger sisters are Samantha Bauer, Laura Bauer Walling and Sara Bauer.

Before entering Clemson University, Christa attended middle schools in Pennsylvania, in Courtland, Ohio, USA and in Summerville, South Carolina. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. From 2004 to 2008, she attended Clemson University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in public health science.
2. From 2008 to 2011, she attended the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh where she earned her PhD in physical therapy.
3. From August 2011 to March 2014, she was a Triage Staffing physical therapist in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
4. In March 2014, she joined the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston as a rehab educator and a senior physical therapist.
5. On January 28, 2017, she and Lee got married at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina.
6. In June 2018, she joined the medical branch of the University of Texas in Galveston, Texas as an adjunct assistant professor.
7. In January 2019, she obtained her license as a cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy specialist from the American Physical Therapy Association.
8. In 2020, she gave birth to her daughter Madeline Bauer Gilley.
9. In 2022, she gave birth to her son Gannon Bauer Gilley.
10. On February 7, 2024, she turned 38.
11. In May 2024, she joined the University of Pittsburgh as an adjunct faculty member.
12. In August 2024, the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) Journal published “Prehabilitation Maximizing Functional Mobility in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Supported on Axillary Impella”, an article she co-wrote with Anju Bhardwaj, Ismael A. Salas de Armas, Amanda Bergeron, R. Michelle Sauer, Kathryn Reeves, Maria Patarroyo-Aponte, Mehmet H. Akay, Manish Patel, Sachin Kumar, Jayeshkumar Patel, Juan Marcano, Sriram Nathan and Igor D. Gregoric.
13. On October 7, 2024, while she was 9 weeks pregnant, she was fatally strangled inside her residence in Houston allegedly by Lee.