What happens when the identity you've built your whole life suddenly no longer fits?
For Marty Ross-Dolen, that moment came on September 11, 2001. After years of training and practice as a child psychiatrist, she realized it was time to let go and start again. In this episode of The Life Shift Podcast, Marty shares her story of leaving medicine, embracing motherhood, and ultimately writing her memoir about family legacy, silence, and multi-generational grief.
Guest Bio
Marty Ross-Dolen is a graduate of Wellesley College and Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is a retired child and adolescent psychiatrist. She holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her memoir, Always There, Always Gone: A Daughter's Search for Truth, was released with She Writes Press in May 2025. She teaches writing and lives in Columbus, Ohio.
👉 Learn more at https://www.martyrossdolen.com
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- How 9/11 became a turning point in Marty's life and career
- Why unspoken grief can ripple through generations
- The healing power of writing and reframing your past
- Why it's okay to change your mind — even after decades of commitment
👍 Like this video if Marty's story resonated with you
💬 Comment below with the moments in your life that changed everything
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Timestamps
0:00 Cold Open: The moment everything shifted on 9/11
2:00 Marty's path into psychiatry
12:00 Watching the towers fall and deciding to step away
20:00 Family legacy and the Highlights for Children connection
38:00 Writing a memoir and facing multi-generational grief
50:00 Why it's okay to change your mind
Social Links
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