Jan 12, 2004
Guidant Elects Kristina M. Johnson, Ph.D., to Board of Directors

Dean of Duke University''s Pratt School of Engineering Will Stand for Re-Election by Guidant Shareholders in May

Indianapolis, Ind. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, announced today that its board of directors has elected Kristina M. Johnson, Ph.D., Dean, Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School of Engineering, Duke University, to fill an additional director seat created by the board late last year. Johnson, who joined the board effective January 1, 2004, will stand for re-election by Guidant shareholders in May. The appointment of Johnson increases the membership of the board to fourteen.

"Ms. Johnson is a prolific researcher, an outstanding educator, an accomplished author in the field of optics and liquid crystal display, as well as a successful entrepreneur," stated James M. Cornelius, Chairman of the Board, Guidant Corporation. "Her leadership continues to build the Pratt School of Engineering into a center of excellence in teaching, research and service to society. She will be a tremendous asset to our board."

Ronald W. Dollens, president and CEO, Guidant Corporation, stated, "As dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University and an internationally recognized electrical engineer, Ms. Johnson brings to our board an exceptional understanding of how novel insights and ideas are brought into real-world applications. Ms. Johnson''s contributions will be of immense value as Guidant continues to innovate the next generation of medical technology solutions to address the unmet clinical needs of the millions of people suffering from cardiovascular disease."

Johnson joined Duke University in July 1999 as Dean of Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. As dean, she is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Edmund T. Pratt, Jr., School of Engineering.

Before joining Duke, Johnson served on the faculty at the University of Colorado from 1985-1999 as a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and as co-founder and director (1993-1997) of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Optoelectronic Computing Systems Center. Throughout her career, she has co-founded several start-up companies, including ColorLink, Inc.; KAJ, LLC; and STI, Inc.

Johnson received her Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Ph.D. from Stanford University in Electrical Engineering. She is an expert in liquid crystal (LC) electro-optics, having pioneered work in liquid crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) microdisplays. She has 44 patents or patents pending in LC tunable optical filters, spatial light modulators, color separators, pattern recognition systems and sensors. Most of her research focuses on splitting light into components of color, which is a key element for high-definition television, projectors and other applications.

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.