FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2002

CONTACT: Jennifer Palcher - HCEA (404) 252-3663

ATLANTA - The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) announced its officers and directors at its 2002 Annual Meeting, June 22-25, in Toronto, Canada. Christy Eichers, Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, was inducted as president.

Other 2002-2003 HCEA officers are: President Elect - Joyce Banister, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, N.J.; Vice President - James Hladnik, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.; Treasurer - Ruth Johansen, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Medication Delivery, Round Lake, Ill.; Secretary - Juleanne Dawson, Bard Access Systems, Salt Lake City; and Immediate Past President - Brenda Hurst, Lilly ICOS LLC, Indianapolis.

The association's 2002-2004 directors are Suzanne Fox, TAP Pharmaceuticals, Lake Forest, Ill.; Cynthia Holloway, Valleylab, Boulder, Colo.; Karen Kingston, B. Braun Medical, Bethlehem, Pa.; Linda Possinger, Aventis Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pa.; and Sandra Ratcliffe, Pfizer, Inc., New York.

The association's 2002-2003 directors are Sharon Buck, American Heart Association, Dallas; Frank Corcoran, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, St. Davids, Pa.; George Feehan, GWF Associates, Hamilton, N.J.; Riki Metzger, Merck Human Health Division, West Point, Pa.; Deanna Moran, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, Morristown, N.J.; and Geri-Dee Shaffer, Aesculap, Inc., Lawrenceville, Ga.

2002-2003 appointed directors are Barbara Orr, Poretta & Orr, Inc., Doylestown, Pa.; Kevin Wohlfort, American Urological Association, Baltimore; and Marianne Yeager, GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia.

HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents more than 700 member organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.

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