Systems and methods are provided for producing
diffusion-weighted images of a subject using a
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
system. The method includes performing a
stimulated echo preparation module using non-selective radio-frequency (RF) pulses designed to induce a
stimulated echo, performing an acquisition module that includes a multi-slice acquisition of MR data in the presence of
diffusion gradients, and reconstructing the
diffusion-weighted images of the subject from the MR data.