If you are set doing considerable research during residency, the best option for you would be residencies that have dedicated research residency spots. The two major ones that I know of are Mallinckrodt and Penn, who reserve one or two spots for people who are interested in doing research. The other option to ask around for are the programs who offer the option of the ABR's Holman research pathway as an option. The above two programs do that. MGH requires you to do a 1 year focused minifellowship year between the 3rd and fourth years, but it's not necessarily research and is more focused clinical work. I think that there are two Penn third year residents that are doing neuroradiology research during their third year within the Holman research pathway. Hopkins encourages residents to do reasearch but I'm not sure if they go far enough to give you a year off as in the Holman pathway. I think Mallinckrodt and Penn would be the places that are more flexible to your needs, but I would favor Penn for neuroradiology or MRI because they are very strong in those areas. I would favor Mallinckrodt if you are interested in nuclear medicine aspects of neuroradiology, though Penn is strong in brain n uclear medicine and PET as well. If you are intrerested in molecular imaging, Stanford or MGH would be a good choice.
