A system and method for performing parallel magnetic resonance angiography includes controlling operation of a magnetic gradient system and an RF system to perform a calibration data pulse sequence to begin acquiring calibration data for use in a parallel imaging reconstruction process after receiving an indication that the subject has received a dose of a contrast agent. The acquisition of the calibration data is discontinued before the contrast agent reaches a peak concentration within a region of interest (ROI) of the subject and operation of the magnetic gradient system and RF system is controlled to perform an imaging pulse sequence in accordance with a parallel imaging acquisition to begin acquiring image data from the ROI. The image data is reconstructed into an image of the ROI using the calibration data.
