To others, Dr. Lawrence Mieczkowski (Dr. Mitch) was a successful physician, caring father and good husband — but inwardly he was suffering from deep despair. When the 1999 Columbine shootings triggered a descent into near madness, he lost his ability to fight off the demons dragging him further into the darkness of depression and hopelessness. Something had to be done.
Finally seeking help in 2001, Dr. Mitch found a trusted psychiatrist and embarked on a yearslong journey that unlocked the deepest parts of his childhood and adult life — painful memories of abuse, neglect and trauma. In this memoir, he recounts the struggles, fears and successes on his path to healing with clarity and directness, proving that even in the face of overwhelming odds, it’s possible to find a path to the light.
The Room on the Right is a poignant story of endurance and survival that will inspire readers for years to come.
Mieczkowski is an award-winning physician, speaker and author. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in applied mathematics, he completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati and a three-year internal medicine residency before participating in research on heart disease prevention. He was then selected by the National Institutes of Health for a leadership role educating other physicians and became a sought-after speaker in the U.S. and abroad. He is the author or co-author of numerous scientific articles and op-eds. He lives with his wife in Ohio.