By DoM Communications  | Date published: December 1, 2025

First Renal Biopsy Performed in Pulmonary Procedural Space to Accommodate Patient’s Needs 

The first renal biopsy was recently performed in the pulmonary procedural space to better accommodate patient needs. According to Kenneth Ralto, MD, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Renal Medicine, and John Mark Madison, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, renal biopsies can now be performed in an available room within the bronchoscopy suite on the University campus. “We had limitations on space and equipment, and we couldn’t always get patients in in a timely fashion. We have a lot more patients who are going to need transplant biopsies, and we really needed a way to make the process more efficient,” Dr. Ralto said. 

In the new clinical space, three physicians in the Division of Renal Medicine will be performing kidney biopsies, including Dr. Ralto, Konstantin Abramov, MD, associate professor of medicine, and Xavier Vela Parada, MD, assistant professor of medicine. “With the new space, we have much more flexibility as far as what equipment we can use. Logistically, it’s been a big adjustment, but we can now get patients in more effectively and easily,” explained Dr. Ralto. Dr. Ralto hopes to schedule approximately three to four biopsies per week with the addition of the new clinical space. 

Other collaborators on this initiative include Christine Vallee, Senior Director of Ambulatory Operations, Kimberly Eisenstock, MD, vice chair for clinical affairs and assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine, the bronchoscopy clinic, and SACU staff, who assist with patient recovery after the procedure.  

“Overall, everyone has been very accommodating and very helpful,” said Drs. Ralto and Madison.