Dr. Leticia Dantas is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Behavioral Medicine Service at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, neuroscience insight, and a deep passion for the human–animal bond to her work.
Get to know Dr. Dantas
Q: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in sunny Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Q: Where did you complete your undergraduate studies?
At Universidade Federal Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, where I studied Biology and Marine Biology.
Q: Where did you earn your DVM?
I earned my DVM from the same institution, Universidade Federal Fluminense.
Q: What are your professional credentials and roles?
I hold a DVM, MS, and PhD, and I am a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. I serve as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Behavioral Medicine Service at University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. I’m also a Certified Fear Free Professional and a member of the Fear Free Advisory Board.
Q: What inspired you to pursue veterinary medicine?
A desire to support companion animals and people’s mental health and overall joy.
Q: What does your day-to-day look like?
I split my time between seeing my beloved patients at UGA’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and lifting heavy weights as I am also a weightlifting and CrossFit coach.
Q: What are your primary clinical and research interests?
Veterinary psychiatry and psychology, along with neuroscience.
Q: How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
I aim to develop critical thinkers—doctors who view the patient as a whole, orchestrated by the brain, rather than as isolated body systems. 
Q: What is a professional achievement you’re particularly proud of?
Becoming a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
Q: What is a personal achievement you’re proud of?
Being a USA Weightlifting coach and being Dado’s mom.
Q: Who has influenced your career the most?
Dr. Jorge Guerrero has been my mentor since veterinary school and taught me to dream big and believe that I could achieve any goals I set myself up to do.
Q: What advice would you give veterinary students?
Developing people skills, compassion, and emotional intelligence is just as important—if not more—than mastering clinical and surgical skills.
Q: What do you enjoy outside of work?
Spending time with my pets and my family, weightlift and train hard!
Q: Tell us about your pets.
I have two cats: a tabby ex-feral named Nina who is the sweetest girl, and a rambunctious and playful Siberian named Bonito.
Behavioral Medicine at UGA Vet Med
The Behavioral Medicine Service at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital focuses on diagnosing and treating behavioral conditions in dogs and cats, recognizing that behavior is closely tied to overall health and well-being.
The service provides comprehensive evaluations and individualized treatment plans for issues such as anxiety, aggression, compulsive behaviors, and fear-related conditions. Care often includes a combination of behavior modification strategies, environmental management, and, when appropriate, medical therapy.
A key component of the program is its emphasis on the human-animal bond—supporting both patients and their owners to improve quality of life. Through clinical care, teaching, and research, the Behavioral Medicine team works to advance understanding of animal behavior while training future veterinarians to approach cases with compassion and a whole-patient perspective.
To learn more about our behavioral medicine program, visit our website here.
