Oct 30, 2002
Guidant Offers Award-Winning Women's Health Care Physician Education Program

Program Designed to Improve Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Indianapolis, Ind. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, today announced that the company has formed an exclusive partnership with health care consultants Caroline R. Norman, M.D. and Stephanie Supple, R.N., to develop their award-winning women''s cardiac wellness program Making a Difference - Heart to Heart.

The Making a Difference - Heart to Heart program was first established by Dr. Norman at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Miss. The program was subsequently implemented at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, La., in 2000.

"The goal of the Making a Difference - Heart to Heart program is to focus on education and prevention," stated Dr. Norman, founder of Heart to Heart. "When physicians are educated regarding the risks women face, they can instruct patients on prevention, early diagnosis and early treatment. Combined, these techniques will improve and lengthen the lives of women with heart disease."

The program''s mission is to educate women and health care providers about the prevalence of heart disease in women, identify women at risk for heart disease, and intervene in an appropriate manner. Health care providers participating in the program attend a two-day preceptorship and are trained on how to implement the program at their hospitals and medical centers. Additionally, participants are offered a variety of tools and services through Dr. Norman and Stephanie Supple to ensure the implementation of the program is successful. The program will be promoted through Guidant''s sales force to U.S. physicians and hospital customers.

"Guidant is committed to educating physicians about the specific risks women face regarding cardiovascular disease," said Ginger Graham, advisor to the president, Guidant Corporation. "Since 1984, more women than men have died from cardiovascular disease despite an abundance of new treatments and procedures. Experts speculate that this is due to a lack of awareness among women and their physicians, and less aggressive use of therapy for women than men. We hope this program will serve as the basis for increased discussion about cardiovascular disease between health care providers and their female patients."

Guidant''s association with Making a Difference - Heart to Heart is one of the many partnerships it has launched with women''s health organizations as part of the company''s Guidant Reaches Out to Women (GROW) program. GROW''s overall objectives are to establish Guidant as a leader in the education of women about cardiac and vascular disease and to partner with health care professionals to expand cardiovascular care for women. More information regarding women''s cardiovascular health can be found on Guidant''s website at www.guidant.com/women.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of more than 10,000 employees, develops, manufactures and markets a broad array of products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life''s most threatening medical conditions. For more information visit www.guidant.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information about Guidant, including its products and services, please visit the company's newsroom at www.guidant.com/newsroom.