Meet Us

Bruce Petitt, M.D.

Bruce Petitt, M.D., is the senior partner and owner of West Alabama Pediatrics, where he has practiced office-based pediatrics since 1992. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has been licensed by the State of Alabama since 1990. Dr. Petitt has served on many hospital committees at both DCH Regional Medical Center and DCH Northport hospitals, including the Department of Pediatrics, and is currently serving as Medical Staff President. He is passionate about proper growth, nutrition and development, and enjoys educating children and their families.

Dr.Petitt was born and raised in Nashville, TN. He attended medical school at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He met his wife Patricia Hughes Petitt while a resident in the UAB program at The Childrens Hospital of Alabama. Pat is a registered dietician and is teaching at the University of Montevallo. Dr. Petitt and his wife live in Tuscaloosa and have 4 children, Joseph, Claire, Anna Lee and Thomas. He enjoys cycling and attending sporting events and has participated in the "Ride of Love", a fundraiser for Camp Smile-A-Mile for many years.

KaiCee Richardson, M.D., IBCLC

Dr. KaiCee Richardson, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She returned to her home state to complete her M.D. at the University of Tennessee in Memphis in 2013 and then completed her pediatric residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2016. Dr. Richardson is Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Her academic interests include breastfeeding, adolescent medicine, ADHD, and mental health. She and her husband,Seth, have two daughters, Kate and Claire, and enjoy traveling, great food and Alabama football (Roll Tide). She has been with West Alabama Pediatrics since 2017.

Elizabeth Cockrum, M.D.

Elizabeth Cockrum, M.D. is a Board Certified Pediatrician and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics since 1989. She received her M.D. degree from the University of Alabama School Of Medicine and completed her specialty training in Pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Alabama. For over 26 years her career was in academic medicine as a clinician and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama where she was recognized for her outstanding teaching and care of children. She has served in many roles for the University, DCH hospital, and the Alabama AAP. Dr. Cockrum joined West Alabama Pediatrics in 2016 where she enjoys taking care of all children and has a special interest in asthma, school health, and care of the newborn.

Dr. Cockrum was born and raised in Rainbow City, Alabama. She is married to Ricky Cockrum from Hoover, Alabama. They have two children who were raised in Tuscaloosa. Her daughter Casey is now a physician in Mobile and her son Richard, also a physician, is beginning his training in OB-GYN. In 2014 Casey provided them with their greatest blessing, a grandson, Jordan. Dr. Cockrum loves to talk sports and attend any sporting event, especially UA football. She and her husband spend as much time as possible enjoying their home on Lake Tuscaloosa.

Dr. John Licata

Dr. Licata is a Board-Certified Pediatrician and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is originally from Atlanta, GA. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA and completed his pediatric residency at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC. He began his career in outpatient pediatrics at Charlotte Pediatric Clinic in 2020 before joining West Alabama Pediatrics in 2023. His clinical interests include newborn care, early childhood development, ADHD, and obesity prevention.

He lives in Birmingham, AL with his wife Ashley Licata, PhD, RD who is a nutrition professor at Samford University. They have a King Charles Cavalier named Dash and are expecting their first child in January 2024. His favorite hobby is playing golf. He also enjoys watching any sporting event and reading detective novels in his free time.

Katherine Zieman, CRNP, IBCLC

Katherine Zieman, CRNP, IBCLC originally from Mobile, is a graduate of the University of Alabama receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then spent five years working in UAB's Neonatal ICU. In 2018, she received her Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a board certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Primary Care.

Katherine and her husband, Bernard, welcomed their first son, Batson, in June of 2022. They enjoy spending time outdoors with their dog, Folly, and traveling to new places.

Brianna Williford, CRNP

Brianna Williford, originally from Tuscaloosa, is a graduate of the University of Alabama receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then spent seven years working at Children's Hospital of Alabama in the Cardiovascular ICU and Cardiac Care Unit. In 2021, she received her Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of South Alabama. She is a board certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Primary Care. Brianna and her husband, Josh, reside in Hoover, AL with their dogs, Lucy and Jolene. They enjoy traveling, spending time at the lake, and watching college football.