SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)                October 15, 2004

                          VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

       Delaware                      1-7598                      94-2359345
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(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission File              (IRS Employer
   of Incorporation)                 Number)                Identification No.)

3100 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA                                      94304-1030
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                            (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code                (650) 493-4000


                                 Not Applicable
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_|   Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

|_|   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)

|_|   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers;  Election of Directors;
Appointment of Principal Officer.

      On October 15, 2004,  Varian Medical Systems,  Inc. issued a press release
regarding R. Andrew  Eckert  Appointed  To Fill Seat on Board of  Directors  for
Varian Medical Systems.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1
and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

      (c) Exhibits.

      99.1 Press  Release  dated  October 15, 2004  regarding  R. Andrew  Eckert
Appointed To Fill Seat on Board of Directors for Varian Medical Systems.


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                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                          Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

                                          By: /s/ JOSEPH B. PHAIR
                                              --------------------  
                                          Name: Joseph B. Phair
                                          Title: Vice President, Administration,
                                                 General Counsel and Secretary



Dated: October 15, 2004


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Number                               Exhibit
------                               -------

99.1  Press Release dated October 15, 2004 regarding R. Andrew Eckert  Appointed
      To Fill Seat on Board of Directors for Varian Medical Systems.