PALO ALTO, Calif.--Dec. 2, 2002--The Board of Directors of Varian MedicalSystems, Inc. (NYSE:VAR) has elected the company's current President and CEO, Richard M. Levy, 64, to be its next Chairman of the Board effective on Feb. 14, 2003. He will replace Richard W. Vieser, 75, who is retiring from the board upon the expiration of his term in February. Levy will continue as the company's president and chief executive officer. "Dick Levy is uniquely qualified to take on the additional responsibility of Chairman of the Board at this time," said Vieser. "We have had a wonderful relationship and I fully expect him to lead this great company onto further successes in the years ahead." "Dick Vieser has provided Varian Medical Systems with outstanding leadership during our first years as a stand-alone medical company," said Levy. "He has established an active and constructive board that is a vital asset for our company." The board has also made Terry R. Lautenbach, 64, the Lead Director effective on Feb. 14. Lautenbach, a retired Senior Vice President of International Business Machines, Inc., will continue serving in his current capacity as Chairman of the Audit Committee for the company. Levy has been the chief executive officer of Varian Medical Systems since 1999 when the company formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. spun off its instruments and semiconductor manufacturing equipment businesses. Prior to 1999, Levy served as executive vice president responsible for Varian Associates' Health Care Systems business for nine years. He joined Varian Associates in 1968 and has managed several other businesses, including Semiconductor Equipment and Vacuum Products, as well as the company's Central Research facility. He holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth and a doctorate in nuclear chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. Levy serves on the boards of directors for Pharmacyclics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PCYC) and AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association). He is also a vice chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. In September 1998, Levy completed a one-year term as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Electronics Association. He is a past member of the Board of the Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy Systems Division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.