EXHIBIT 10.16

                               NOVOSTE CORPORATION

                        RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

To:   William A. Hawkins III

            We are pleased to notify you that, by the determination of the Stock
Option and Compensation Committee of Novoste Corporation (the "Company"), 14,000
shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Restricted Stock"), of
the Company have this 27th day of February 1998 been awarded to you, subject to
the commencement of your employment with the Company by June 1, 1998, and
subject to the terms and conditions set forth below. Capitalized terms not
defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Employment
Agreement, dated April 23, 1998, between the Company and you (the "Employment
Agreement").

            In consideration of the Company's accepting this Restricted Stock
Award Agreement (this "Agreement") and awarding to you the shares of Restricted
Stock provided for herein, the you hereby agrees with the Company as follows:

      1.    Restricted Stock.

            During the period of time that any of the shares of Restricted Stock
are unvested as set forth below, the shares of Restricted Stock awarded to you
pursuant to this Agreement that shall not have vested shall not be sold,
assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, except by
will or the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in this Agreement.
Shares of Restricted Stock shall vest as follows:

              (i)        25% of the total number of shares of Restricted Stock 
                         subject to this Agreement on June 1, 1999;

              (ii)       25% of the total  number of shares of  Restricted
                         Stock subject to this Agreement on June 1, 2000;

              (iii)      25% of the total number of shares of Restricted Stock 
                         subject to the Agreement on June 1, 2001; and

              (iv)       25% of the total  number of shares of  Restricted
                         Stock subject to the Agreement on June 1, 2002;

provided, however, that on any such date, you are then employed by the Company
under the Employment Agreement.


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             Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of (i) a
Change in Control (as such term is defined in the Company's Amended and Restated
Stock Option Plan) of the Company so long as you are then employed by the
Company under the Employment Agreement or (ii) the termination of your
employment with the Company (x) by the Company without Cause or without
Unsatisfactory Performance or (y) by you for Good Reason, all restrictions on
shares of Restricted Stock set forth in this Section shall immediately lapse.

      2.     Termination of Employment for Unsatisfactory Performance.

             If the Company terminates your employment for Unsatisfactory
Performance, in addition to those shares of Restricted Stock that are vested and
unrestricted in accordance with Section 1 hereof, an additional 3,500 shares of
Restricted Stock shall also become vested and unrestricted unless all such
restrictions shall have previously lapsed.

      3.     Death, Disability and Certain Types of Termination of Employment.

             If you cease to be an employee of the Company due to (i) your
death, (ii) your disability (as such term is defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), (iii) the termination of
your employment by the Company for Cause or (iv) the termination of your
employment by you without Good Reason, you (or in the event of your death, your
legatee or legatees under your Last Will, or your personal representatives or
distributees) shall only retain ownership of those shares of Restricted Stock
that are vested and unrestricted in accordance with Sections 1 and 2 hereof; all
remaining unvested and restricted shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited.

      4.     Stock Certificates.

             You hereby acknowledge that any certificates evidencing shares of
Restricted Stock of the Company issued pursuant to this Agreement shall bear the
following restrictive legends:

                  THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
                  REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND
                  MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN
                  EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SAID ACT FOR THESE
                  SHARES OR AN OPINION OF THE CORPORATION'S COUNSEL THAT
                  REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.


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                  THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO
                  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND POTENTIAL FORFEITURE PURSUANT TO
                  THE PROVISIONS OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT, DATED
                  JUNE 1, 1998, BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND WILLIAM A. HAWKINS III,
                  WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF
                  NOVOSTE CORPORATION.

      5.     Rights with Respect to Shares.

             The undersigned shall have, after issuance of certificates for the
number of shares of Restricted Stock awarded, ownership of all such shares,
including the right to vote the same and to receive dividends or other
distributions made or paid with respect to such Restricted Stock, subject,
however, to the restrictions imposed thereon pursuant to this Agreement.

      6.     Governing Law.

             This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with, and any
dispute arising in connection herewith shall be governed by, the internal laws
of the State of Florida.

      7.     Amendments.

             This Agreement may not be amended, modified or terminated except by
a writing signed by the Company and you.

                                    Sincerely yours,

                                    NOVOSTE CORPORATION


                                    By:
                                         ------------------------------
                                         Thomas D. Weldon
                                         Chief Executive Officer

Agreed to, acknowledged and accepted this
1st day of June, 1998.


-------------------------------
William A. Hawkins III