A scientist with style
‘Tox Doc’ Khan-Mayberry continues mother’s legacy on healthy living
Standing in Discovery Green park, Noreen Khan-Mayberry could hardly contain her excitement.
This Saturday, the toxicologist known as the “Tox Doc” will hold the first Houston HealthFest benefiting her nonprofit, Nicole’s Garden, which helps people establish urban and alternative micro-gardens in nongreen spaces. The organization is named for her late mother, who believed fresh, nonprocessed food was the key to good health.
“We have so many festivals that are centered around deepfried food and alcohol,” KhanMayberry said. “I wanted to create a celebration about healthy eating and living.”
Khan-Mayberry’s mother, Nicole Gabriel, died in an accident in Chicago just a few months before Khan-Mayberry got married in 1999. She and husband, Chris Mayberry, named their daughter after her mother; Nicole is 11 now.
“The hardest part was I never had chance to say goodbye. She always told me not to let my gender or background limit me, and I never did.”
But her cultural background always seemed to come up during childhood.
Khan-Mayberry’s accountant father, Muhammad Khan, was born in India and raised in Pakistan. Her stylish mother, who was a teacher and seamstress, was born in Haiti to an Italian father. Her parents met when they were both living in New York, where Khan-Mayberry was born. Noreen was their only child, and the family settled in Houston when she was 5. Her parents divorced soon after.
“Interacial couples weren’t as prevalent as they are now, so I got teased. I can’t tell you how many times I was asked, ‘What are you?’ ”
Khan-Mayberry would give the answer she thought would be most acceptable. Often it was, “I’m black.”
“As I grew older, I learned I had to be true to who I am,” she said. “I am proud of my South Asian roots and my Caribbean roots. I have friends from all different cultures. I had to grow into that strong sense of self because it wasn’t always there.”
As a girl, Khan-Mayberry competed as a gymnast and tried basketball, though she was awful at it. (She loved the uniforms.) But she had a knack for science and graduated from Lamar High School at age 16, a year early, with the idea of becoming a scientist.
“I was the kid who wanted a science kit instead of an Easy Bake Oven, and I was always interested in the environment.”
She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology from Xavier University in New Orleans. She later earned a master’s degree in biology and a doctorate in environmental toxicology, both from Texas Southern University. After working for Exxon and BP, she was recruited by NASA and became the first female space toxicologist in the world. Her job is to keep astronauts safe from environmental toxins in space.
Her book, “Talking Toxicology” (NKM Consulting), is an Amazon best-seller, and she has a line of detoxing nutritional supplements. She was dubbed the “Tox Doc.”
Even though she’s a serious scientist, her sense of style is fun and whimsical — from her patterned hose to her angel-wing ring and double helix earrings.
Khan-Mayberry started Nicole’s Garden to help educate people, especially children, about toxins and food. Her Classroom Space Garden program, which is in five area school districts, teaches children how to make classroom gardens.
But as she finishes the planning details of Saturday’s HealthFest, Khan-Mayberry knows her mother would be proud.
“She always told me that American people eat too many things made of unnatural colors and too many things from boxes. She wanted me to be healthy and live a healthy life.”
She hopes to instill similar values in her daughter.
“Many of the talks I’ve given around the country, my daughter has been always there, and it has become a part of her. She even gardens and talks with her friends about eating healthy. That makes me most proud as a mom.”