Independence Back Institute
2800 Ashton Drive
Suite 100
Wilmington, NC 28412
Office: 910-794-8892
Fax: 910-794-8895

Doctors & Staff

Dr. John Liguori, MD
John Liguori, MD, MS, FAAPM&R is the Medical Director of the Coastal Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Liguori is board certified in PM&R and a board examiner for the specialty. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and is board certified by the American Academy of Pain Management. Dr. Liguori obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey, a Master of Science degree from Rutgers University, and a Doctor of Medicine Degree form Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Johns Hopkins University and the Medical College of Virginia.

Dr. Ben Wall, MD
Ben Wall, MD, MSPH, FAAPM&R obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree from Wake Forest University, a Masters of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Doctor of Medicine Degree from the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University. He completed his specialty training at the Medical College of Virginia. He is board certified in PM&R and PAIN. Dr. Wall is a member of the International Spinal Injection Society and has special interests in fluoroscopic pain management. 2005 President North Carolina Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation President-Elect the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society.

Dr. Peter Gemelli, MD
Peter Gemelli, MD is a fellowship trained pain managment doctor specializing in fluoroscopically guided injections of the lumbar and cervical regions. Dr. Gemelli completed medical school at the Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at East Carolina University and is fellowship trained though Non-Surgical Orthopedics in Marietta, Georgia.

Dr. Gemelli has special interests in interventional pain management, back and neck care, electromypography, and workers compensation

Ken Barrow
Ken Barrow PAC, MHS obtained Bachelor of Arts Degree from UNC Wilmington, a Bachelor of Physician Assistant Studies from East Carolina University, and A Masters of Health Sciences from Duke University. He completed all of his clinical training at New Hanover Health Network and local health care providers in the Wilmington area. Ken is a member of the Cape Fear Chapter of the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistant as well as the American Academy of Physician Assistants.


Erica Christenson, PAC earned her Associate Degree in Laboratory Technology from Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro, NC. Erica earned her BS in Physician Assistant Studies at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. She received her Masters Degree with focus on PM&R from the University of Nebraska distance learning program. Erica is a member of the Cape Fear Chapter of the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistant as well as the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Erica treats patients with Dr. Liguori at the New Hanover Regional Hospital's Rehabilitation Hospital (formerly Coastal Rehabilitation Hospital).


Laura Ivey, PA graduated with a Physician Assistant degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in August 2011. Prior to that, Laura worked had worked with us at Independence Back Institute while attending college at UNC Wilmington.

With the number of providers we have on staff, we are able to get patients scheduled to be seen in a timely manner.

If you are interested in making an appointment, please have your primary care physician send over a referral to our office. If you have further questions, please call our office at 910-794-8892.

Independence Back Institute