Rathna Devi Vaithilingam graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Masters in Clinical Dentistry (Periodontology) from the University of Malaya. She previously worked in the Ministry of Health as a consultant periodontist before joining University Malaya as a  Senior Lecturer in 2008. She is currently a Professor in the field of Periodontology in the Faculty of Dentistry. She has been a principal investigator in various research projects pertaining to periodontal-systemic relationship, genetic studies associated with periodontal disease and periodontal regenerative therapy. Her research output has been published in various peer- reviewed international and local publications. She has presented internationally and locally on her area of expertise. She is currently the President of Malaysian Society for Oral Microbiologists and Oral Immunologists and was previously President of the Malaysian Society of Periodontology. She is also a member of various national and international professional bodies. She is an Editorial Board member of the Annals of Dentistry University Malaya and the Journal of International Academy of Periodontology.