March 2, 2026 — There are three core values that guide Tammy Kegley in her day-to-day and professional life, instilled in her from her time serving in the U.S. Air Force: integrity first, service before self and excellence in all that we do.

Today, Kegley serves as the administrator for the University of Florida Health Aortic Disease Center, where she manages operations for more than seven doctors and oversees the day-to-day processes that keep the center running smoothly. For nearly three decades at UF, Kegley has quietly helped build, strengthen and enhance the programs she supports.

Before joining the UF Department of Surgery, Kegley served in the U.S. Air Force from 1984 to 1989, working in accounting and finance at the White House Communications Agency. This experience helped shape her personality and drive.

“I’m a problem solver,” she said. “I just try to help solve problems and make sure people have the ability to do their work.”

After her husband retired from the Air Force, Kegley joined the Gator family in 1999 working as a word processor operator. She advanced through several roles, ultimately becoming the office manager for the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Surgery in 2003, kicking off a long legacy with UF Health. Kegley has been a dedicated member of the Department of Surgery ever since, continuing to serve as a steady and dependable anchor within UF Health. She’s been part of the fabric of the UF Health Aortic Disease Center since its launch in 2018.

One of Kegley’s proudest accomplishments was creating a comprehensive procedure manual for division office managers, first as a paper manual and later as a digital resource for greater accessibility. She has also played a key role in screening and training more than a dozen office managers over the years.

“Tammy is exactly the kind of person you want in a program like this,” said Tomas Martin, M.D., director of the UF Health Aortic Disease Center. “With her tenure, she truly knows everyone and understands every facet of how things work.”

To Kegley, success means turning a vision into reality and leaving systems better than she found them. An avowed “behind-the-scenes” individual, Kegley plays a crucial role in strategic endeavors, including national recognition by the Marfan Foundation, establishment of the center itself, and its ongoing efforts to grow and expand its service to patients.

“Having this drive is what motivates me to continue doing what I am passionate about,” she said. “This passion allows me to mesh well with our doctors.”

On her busiest days, you can find Kegley starting her morning before most have even woken up for their workday. She meets the doctors and surgeons outside Opus Coffee in the lobby of the UF Health Heart and Vascular Hospital or in the clinic conference room, which she calls her “second office.” Here, she begins going over schedules and administrative topics that make a successful clinical program.

After this meeting — or when a surgeon gets pulled away to begin an operation for the day — she heads back to her main office space at the 1329 Building. Her administrative tasks continue as the sun has just begun to peek over the horizon.

Her role is all-encompassing, from budgeting and writing executive summaries to creating presentations, providing faculty support and supervising the genetic counseling team. No two days are the same, something she has come to enjoy. She is a steady presence among her fellow dedicated professionals.

Her leadership played a large role in helping to launch the center’s large-scale annual International Aortic Symposium. The signature event draws over 200 attendees from around the globe. Kegley coordinated with continuing medical education leaders, vendors and institutional leadership to ensure sponsorship, compliance and accreditation.

“It’s never just one person,” she said. “It’s the team around you that all pitches in.”

Kegley always aims for perfection in her profession. She defines success not by accolades or material things but by impact.

“I don’t measure success by the biggest house or the most money,” she said. “Success is leaving the world a little better because you were in it.”

Outside of work, Kegley is a self-described homebody. She enjoys quiet evenings where she can feel at peace with her husband, Eric, and their rescue dogs, Layla and Rocket. In an effort to slow down her days, she enjoys taking walks in her free time.

After more than 25 years at UF, Kegley remains passionate about the work in large part because of the doctors, surgeons and staff who surround her and the role each individual serves in patient care. She coordinates the center’s smooth operations and supports the clinical reputation of the center’s faculty as the team works toward strengthening its presence on both a national and international stage.

Her advice to others considering a similar career path: Don’t be scared of change, embrace advances in technology and always approach your work with a can-do attitude.

“The only thing that stays the same is change,” she said. “You either get on the train or you get left behind.”