EXHIBIT 99.2

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

VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUTHORIZES REPURCHASE OF ANOTHER
TWO MILLION SHARES OF STOCK

PALO ALTO, CALIF., FEBRUARY 14, 2003 - Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE:VAR)
today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the Company to
repurchase up to two million shares through the end of February 2004. The new
authorization is effective immediately and follows the completion of an earlier
repurchase authorization.

         "We're generating operating cash flow of about $40 million per quarter
and we expect that the continuation of our stock repurchase program will be
accretive to earnings," said Richard M. Levy, chairman, president and CEO of
Varian Medical Systems. "These stock repurchases should enhance shareholder
value by helping to offset dilution from employee stock option exercises and our
employee stock purchase program."

         Under the earlier repurchase authorization that became effective in
August, 2001, Varian Medical Systems spent $83.7 million to repurchase two
million shares of stock at an average price of $41.86 per share. As of the end
of the first fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2002, the company reported $321
million in cash and marketable securities.

         The stock repurchases will be made from time to time through brokers
and dealers on the New York Stock Exchange on in privately negotiated
transactions with nonaffiliated stockholders. Shares will be retired and
cancelled upon repurchase.

                                      # # #

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 2,750
PEOPLE WHO ARE LOCATED AT MANUFACTURING SITES IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE AND IN
ITS 50 SALES AND SUPPORT OFFICES AROUND THE WORLD. IN ITS MOST RECENT FISCAL
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2002, VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS REPORTED SALES OF $873
MILLION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE COMPANY'S INVESTOR RELATIONS
WEB SITE AT WWW.VARIAN.COM

         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 "should,"
"expect," 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.