Oct 2, 2003
Guidant Appoints Beverly H. Lorell, M.D., Vice President, Chief Medical and Technology Officer

New Position Will Lead Technology Development Strategy

INDIANAPOLIS - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, today announced that Beverly H. Lorell, M.D., will join the company as vice president, chief medical and technology officer, effective November 1, 2003. This is the first position of this kind for Guidant and will strengthen the company''s continued commitment to advancing the clinical science and value of its products. In this new position, Dr. Lorell will report to Ronald W. Dollens, president and chief executive officer, and be a member of the Guidant Management Committee.

"Dr. Lorell''s leadership and clinical expertise in heart failure therapy, interventional cardiology and pharmaceutical therapy for cardiovascular disease will be of immense value as we pursue new technologies in treating cardiac and vascular disease," said Dollens. "Dr. Lorell is a distinguished clinician and will provide corporate oversight and leadership over our technology strategy going forward."

As chief medical and technology officer, Dr. Lorell will be instrumental in evaluating new and emerging technologies, determining product development priorities, and influencing the company''s clinical research strategy across all of its businesses. She will also be a strong advocate on public policy initiatives, which are critical to the company''s long-term success. Additionally, she will become a member of Guidant''s Compass board, the company''s venture investing and business development group that looks at emerging therapies and their potential to improve patient care.

"Having the opportunity to apply my scientific research and clinical expertise on a global basis to bring new cardiac and vascular products to the market represents a great challenge for me," said Lorell. "The future of cardiac and vascular therapies is very exciting, especially at this point in the evolution of technology, and Guidant is at the forefront of many new developments. I look forward to working with Guidant and being a part of this important period in history."

Dr. Lorell is currently Professor of Medicine at Harvard University Medical School and director, Program in Heart Failure at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She also serves as a member of Beth Israel''s interventional cardiology team. Dr. Lorell is internationally recognized for her expertise in clinical care of heart failure as well as cardiac catheterization - interventional cardiology. She is also an expert in diagnosis and care of special heart failure conditions, such as inherited cardiomyopathies. During her 20 years as a senior faculty member at Beth Israel Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, she has conducted extensive research in the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure. Her work has been published extensively and she has served as an invited lecturer at various heart conferences and symposiums around the world.

Additionally, Dr. Lorell has served in leadership positions on numerous national advisory boards and committees, including the American Heart Association, Heart Failure Society of America and American College of Cardiology, which guide national standards for care of heart failure patients.

Dr. Lorell received a bachelor of arts with distinction from Stanford University in 1971, and earned her medical doctorate from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1975. She served as a medical intern and resident physician at Stanford University Hospital, and completed clinical and research fellowships in cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

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 11,000 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.