8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
___________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) August 20, 2001

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	1-7598	94-2359345
(State or Other Jurisdiction	(Commission File	(IRS Employer
of Incorporation)	Number)	Identification No.)

3100 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA	94304-1030
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (650) 493-4000

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Item 5. Other Events.
	Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
Press Release Dated August 20, 2001

Item 5. Other Events.

     On August 20, 2001, Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase by the Company of up to one million shares of its stock over the next 12 months. Shares will be retired and cancelled upon repurchase.

     A copy of the press release is attached as an exhibit hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c)  Exhibits.

99.01 Press Release dated August 20, 2001

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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
By:	/s/ Elisha W. Finney
Name: Title:	Elisha W. Finney Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: August 20, 2001

3

EXHIBIT INDEX

Number	Exhibit
99.01	Press Release dated August 20, 2001

EX-99.01

   1
                                                                   Exhibit 99.01


                                                        FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  Elisha Finney - (650) 424-6803
                                                   Spencer Sias - (650) 424-5782


VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUTHORIZES STOCK REPURCHASE
PROGRAM


Palo Alto, Calif., August 20, 2001--Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR) today
announced that its board has authorized the repurchase by the Company of up to
one million shares over the next 12 months.


"With cash levels continuing to increase in a low interest rate environment, we
expect that these repurchases will be anti-dilutive to earnings," said Richard
M. Levy, president and CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "Shareholder value will be
enhanced by stock repurchases that help to offset dilution from employee stock
option exercises and our employee stock purchase program."


The stock repurchase will be made in accordance with applicable state and
federal law and in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions of
Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Shares will
be retired and cancelled upon repurchase.


FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Except for historical information, this news release contains "forward-looking"
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. For this purpose, statements concerning the anticipated anti-dilutive
effect of stock repurchases and any statements using the terms "would,"
"anticipate," "likely," or similar statements are forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to
differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include,
without limitation, the risks listed from time to time in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to, and you should
not expect us to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this
release.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      # # #


VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., (NYSE:VAR) OF PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA IS THE WORLD'S
LEADING MANUFACTURER OF INTEGRATED CANCER THERAPY SYSTEMS, WHICH ARE TREATING
THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS PER DAY. THE COMPANY IS ALSO A PREMIER SUPPLIER OF X-RAY
TUBES AND FLAT-PANEL DIGITAL SUBSYSTEMS FOR IMAGING IN MEDICAL SCIENTIFIC, AND
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS EMPLOYS APPROXIMATELY 2,300
PEOPLE WHO ARE LOCATED AT MANUFACTURING SITES IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE AND IN
ITS 40 SALES AND SUPPORT OFFICES AROUND THE WORLD. IN ITS MOST RECENT FISCAL
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 2000, VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS REPORTED SALES OF $690
MILLION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE COMPANY'S INVESTOR RELATIONS
WEB SITE AT WWW.VARIAN.COM.