Medical practice Cilento studied medicine at the
University of Adelaide, graduating in 1919. She was the only woman in her graduating class. Following her marriage, the couple moved to the
Malay States where she worked as a "lady medical officer" in the British colonial service and supervised a women's ward in a hospital. She expanded her outreach through books and radio, and was widely respected by women for her practical advice. She was a strong advocate of the benefit of
vitamins. However, some of her advice was criticised by the medical community as she advocated for
natural childbirth,
contraception, the legalisation of
abortion, and that fathers be present at the birth of their children. Observing that the Heart Foundation of Australia had refused to investigate the role of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease, Cilento wrote: "I am reminded of the many other occasions when life-saving innovations were delayed for years by the irrational conservatism of the medical Establishment… I myself was ridiculed and dismissed as a crank by a distinguished medical teacher when in 1919 I advocated vitamin D for cases of severe rickets. I was laughed at even though, at that time, the vitamin was curing starving babies in war-torn Vienna of this deforming disease. "...Once vitamin E jumps the barriers of prejudice, it may well be instrumental in saving the lives and sparing the suffering of many thousands...who will otherwise die." She expanded her findings into a book,
The Versatile Vitamin: Vitamin E (1976). At the age of 82, Cilento continued writing a health column for
The Courier-Mail.
Professional and community organisations Dr Cilento was also active in medical organisations, including the inaugural president of the Queensland Medical Women's Society in 1929. She pursued her particular passion for mothers and children through the establishment in 1931 of the Mothercraft Association of Queensland in 1931, the Family Planning Association of Queensland, and her membership of Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland. She was also active in women's organisations, including the
National Council of Women of Queensland, the Business and Professional Women's Association and the
Lyceum Club. ==Public recognition==