Amy Dinaburg

My career path has been circuitous but always driven by my love for both biology and people. I initially wanted to be a psychologist because I love people and getting into their issues, but I fell in love with biology in college. After getting my Master of Science in Molecular Biology, I worked in research and development for 2 years, but I discovered that while I loved the field, working in a lab wasn't suited to my personality. I'm a people person - throughout college I was a bartender and server at a piano bar called Howl at the Moon, and I loved it. So I decided to combine my love of biology with my love of people by going into nursing. I completed a Master of Science in Clinical Nurse Leadership through a program at University of Maryland for people who already had a master's in something different. I started working in an intermediate care unit, then psych, and then discovered ER nursing, which I loved. Like being a bartender or server, I love being on my feet, talking to people, multitasking, and having a million things happening at once. I worked as an ER nurse during the pandemic, which was destabilizing. Healthcare is a really broken system, especially in the ER, and I was in a situation where I didn't have to deal with that kind of abuse anymore, so I retired last September. I also worked as an adjunct professor for a community college, teaching psychiatric nursing to nursing students on the floor, helping them learn how to talk to people who are having a tough day. Now I'm exploring the spiritual side of patient care and considering end-of-life doula work. I've launched a blog at humilitykey.com where I write about neuroscience, spirituality, the ego, and how to embody concepts like humility in practical ways. I work with people as a life-enhancing coach, helping those struggling with addiction issues or trying to find themselves. I have three school-age kids, including a youngest daughter with autism who is amazing and delightful but a full-time job herself.