The Guidant Foundation has announced a $500,000 scholarship gift in honor of Ronald W. Dollens, Guidant Corp. president and CEO. Dollens graduated from Purdue in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in pharmacy. The first scholarship will go to a 2004 graduate student of the Department of Biomedical Engineering or from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences.

His peers chose to honor his accomplishments and leadership by creating the scholarship, said James R. Baumgardt, president of Guidant Foundation. "Ron has made so many important contributions to the Guidant Corporation," Baumgardt said. "He has positioned Guidant as a global leader in cardiovascular therapy and medical devices. We want to honor his vision and his legacy to this corporation, as well as his career long dedication to the educational process. We couldn't imagine any better way to do that than to help students who will go on to seek careers in life sciences.

"It is our hope that this scholarship serves as a catalyst for the combination of pharmaceutical and biomedical engineering research, while helping students to be well trained to undertake scientific leadership positions in the future."

The Guidant Foundation helps create patient awareness and access to advancements in cardiovascular care. Through philanthropic partnerships, the foundation supports charitable and educational programs to help improve the quality of life for patients who are at risk or suffer from cardiovascular disease and also funds efforts to inform the public about cardiovascular disease and therapy.

Source: Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu