News Release

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. NAMES HARVARD
MEDICAL SCHOOL DEAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Deerfield, Ill., February 27, 2002 -- Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) today announced that Joseph Martin, M.D., Ph.D. has been elected to serve as a member of its board of directors. Martin, 63, is the dean of the Harvard University Faculty of Medicine with oversight of Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

"We are extremely proud to have Dr. Martin join the Baxter team," said Harry M. Jansen Kraemer, Jr., Baxter chairman and chief executive officer. "His medical, scientific and research expertise, plus his leadership role at two of the world's most prestigious medical institutions, enhances the composition of Baxter's board of directors. His perspective and insight as we move ahead with our growth plans will be extremely valued."

Martin was appointed dean of the Harvard University Faculty of Medicine in July 1997. Prior to that, Martin served as chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) for four years. Martin initially joined UCSF in 1989 as dean of the School of Medicine.

Martin began his career in academic medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he eventually became chair of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery in 1977. In 1978, he originally joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School as the Bullard Professor of Neurology and chief of the neurology service at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1984, he was appointed the Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard.

Martin received his premedical and medical education at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, receiving his MD degree in 1962. He completed a residency in neurology in 1966 and a fellowship in neuropathology in 1967 at Case Western Reserve University. He earned his Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Rochester in 1971.

Martin is the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific articles and reviews, and is a former editor of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, a widely used medical textbook. He has served on the editorial boards of the New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Neurology and Science.

Martin is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and chaired the Institute of Medicine's committee that led to the development of the human brain mapping initiative, an on-going research activity supported by several federal agencies.

Baxter International Inc. is a global medical products and services company that, through its subsidiaries, provides critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. Baxter's products and services in the areas of bioscience (including biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, biosurgery products and transfusion therapies), medication delivery and renal therapy are used by health-care providers and their patients in more than 100 countries.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

	Media Contacts: Deborah Spak, 847-948-2349 George Rafeedie, 847-948-367 Investor Contacts: Neville Jeharajah, 847-948-2875 Mary Kay Ladone, 847-948-3371