Edwards Lifesciences' CEO Begins Two-Year Term as Chairman of AdvaMed


IRVINE, Calif., March 13 -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), a world leader in products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular disease, today announced that Michael A. Mussallem, the company's chairman and CEO, was elected to a two-year term as chairman of the board of directors of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the world's largest and most influential medical device trade association. For the past two years, he has served as chairman of AdvaMed's board committee on Payment and Healthcare Delivery.

"I am honored to serve as AdvaMed's chairman and look forward to building on its numerous successes as the leading advocacy group for the medical technology industry," said Mussallem. "During my chairmanship, I will be dedicated first to doing what's best for patients, while also working to increase awareness of the benefits of innovation in medical technology, enhance industry ethics and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders on a global basis."

"AdvaMed is fortunate to have Mike leading the association," said Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed. "His current and previous leadership roles provide the valuable experience necessary for chairing AdvaMed. With his lengthy tenure at Edwards Lifesciences, Mike has a keen proficiency in addressing critical issues facing the medical devices industry. His role as the former chair of AdvaMed's International Committee provides an understanding of the global opportunities and challenges confronting the industry. As the outgoing chair of the Board Payment and Health Care Delivery Committee, he successfully led the industry's advocacy campaign against sweeping changes to Medicare's inpatient hospital prospective payment systems, which would have negatively impacted patient access to advanced medical technologies. We expect AdvaMed's role as a leading voice for innovation in health care policy will continue to expand under Mike's chairmanship."

Mussallem, 55, has headed Edwards Lifesciences since it was spun-off from Baxter International Inc. and began operating as an independent, publicly traded company in April 2000. Previously, he was responsible for the worldwide operations of both Baxter's CardioVascular business and its Biopharmaceuticals business. He received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1974 and an honorary doctorate in 1999 from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. Mussallem is a director of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., serves on the boards of the California Healthcare Institute and OCTANe, and is a member of the University of California, Irvine, Chief Executive Roundtable.

About AdvaMed

AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. Its members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States and more than 50 percent purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, please visit www.advamed.org.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards treats advanced cardiovascular disease with its market-leading heart valve therapies, and critical care and vascular technologies. In 2008, Edwards celebrates

50 years of partnering with clinicians to develop life-saving innovations. The company's global brands, which are sold in approximately 100 countries, include CardioVations, Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz. Additional company information can be found at www.edwards.com.

SOURCE Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

CONTACT:
Media
Amanda Fowler,
+1-949-250-5070
or
Investors
David K. Erickson,
+1-949-250-6826,
both of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation/

Web site: www.edwards.com
http://www.advamed.org /

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