Cali programs favoring research, if any?

Not sure if this is the answer you're looking for, but most if not all programs value research to some degree, some more than others - but bottom line is pursue the research you can, get your name on some stuff, and keep working your ass off. That's all you can do.

Research is all of what you make it to be. I disagree that getting your name on stuff is a be-all-to-end-all good principle. Of course, pubs/posters/presentations are fantastic, but you'd better be able to talk your way out of them at interviews. If you're doing the Excel spreadsheet for a chart review, be very careful how you list that on your CV... on the other hand, if you actually have your hands on the cadaveric ACL grafts for a biomechanical survey, you can probably tell a great story of your experiences... and should do so!

If numbers/research citations were all that mattered, then there wouldn't be a need for interviews...

agreed. i certainly wasn't implying that you don't need to know your project or that you don't need to identify your involvement on your application. during one interview I was caught off-guard with a question I didn't have the answer to - not a comfortable position to be in.

Didn't mean to break your rocks, SOP. I was in a similar place on several interviews answering questions about stuff other guys did for a paper which included my name.