Science tutoring
College anatomy and physiology, and high-school biology and chemistry, taught from first principles.
I tutor college anatomy and physiology (A&P I and II) for students outside USD, and high-school biology and chemistry (honors and AP). Sessions are one-on-one, in person in San Diego and Coronado or by video. Concept-focused instruction for students who want science to make sense. Some students are told to memorize more; I start somewhere else — what the concept is actually saying, why it works, and how to reason through it when the next question looks a little different.
A letter to families
If you're a student or parent looking for help with college A&P or high-school biology and chemistry, I wrote this for you. When a hard science class shakes a student's confidence, you don't have to work through it alone.
I grew up in Brownsville, in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas — a first-generation college student in a community where type 2 diabetes touches almost every family, including mine. No one in my house had done this before. I learned the path the hard way, by walking it without a map. That's exactly why I do this work now.
That path took me further than I once imagined. My education was fully funded at every stage — college, graduate school, and medical school, and my research carried me from UT Brownsville to Weill Cornell, a PhD at Harvard, and labs at UT Health San Antonio and UT Southwestern. I started medical school at UT Southwestern and then made the hard decision to leave after my clinical years, to focus on research and the people I most want to help.
I believe a student who understands why something works doesn't have to memorize it twice. My job is to find where the understanding broke and rebuild it from there. You can count on clear teaching and real preparation. I'll tell you honestly how your child is doing, though I don't promise grades.
I care most about the families doing this without an inherited roadmap — first-generation, bilingual, or simply outside the networks that make all this look easy. I was that student. I'll meet your family in English or Spanish, so everyone can follow along — not just the student.
If that's the kind of guide you're looking for, I'd be glad to help, and I'll treat your child's future with the care I'd want for my own. You can see how I tutor, or reach out directly — I read every message myself.
— Ivan
Why concept mastery matters
Memorizing can carry a student through one quiz. Understanding carries them through the next unfamiliar problem — and the one after that. Biology and chemistry get noticeably easier once a student can see the mechanism, the pattern, the cause and effect, instead of a wall of terms to recall. That's what pays off on an AP exam, in a first college science course, and on any pre-health path.
What I teach
- Biology — general, honors, and AP Biology
- Chemistry — general, honors, and AP Chemistry
- College anatomy and physiology (A&P I and II) — for students at other colleges and in nursing and pre-health programs
- Introductory biochemistry concepts
- Scientific reasoning and problem-solving
I'm on the biology faculty at the University of San Diego, where I teach A&P, so I don't tutor USD students.
Not currently offered: physics, environmental science, non-science subjects, MCAT tutoring, or medical advice.
How I teach
- Start with the why before the what.
- Break complex ideas into simple, visible mechanisms.
- Ask questions to see how the student is actually thinking.
- Practice applying a concept to new, unfamiliar problems.
- Connect the material to real science and health when that helps it stick.
- Have the student explain it back — clearly, in their own words.
Who this helps
- Students who feel lost in biology or chemistry.
- AP Biology or AP Chemistry students preparing for the May exam.
- Students who memorize well but struggle to apply what they know.
- Pre-health-oriented students building a stronger foundation.
- High-achieving students who want enrichment beyond class.
- First-generation or bilingual families — I'm glad to talk with parents in English or Spanish.
Why me, briefly: a Harvard PhD in the biological sciences and a former HOSA Texas State Champion (2nd nationally, 2007) — so I can meet a student wherever they're stuck and find a way in that makes sense, instead of lecturing like a graduate seminar. More about me →
If you're a USD student: I don't tutor or advise anyone taking my courses, this term or a coming one, paid or not. My office hours are free, and that's what they're for. Private tutoring is independent of, and not endorsed by, the University of San Diego.
Packages & rates
Founding 2026 rates. Every engagement starts with a free 20-minute intro call.
5-Session Package — $750
Most families start here · $150/hr effective
Best for students who need regular help over several weeks. The longer packages below continue the same work at a better rate once we know it's a fit.
What's included
- Five 60-minute sessions
- Topic sequencing
- Progress tracking
- Practice questions or study guidance as appropriate
Single Session — $165/hr
Founding 2026 rate · pay-as-you-go
Best for targeted help, a trial session, a difficult topic, or occasional support.
What's included
- One 60-minute session
- Biology or chemistry topic review
- Concept explanation and practice problems
- Study strategy when relevant
AP Intensive — $1,400
10 sessions · $140/hr effective
Best for AP Biology or AP Chemistry students preparing for the May exam.
What's included
- Ten 60-minute sessions
- AP Biology or AP Chemistry focus
- Concept review
- FRQ / problem-solving practice
- Weakness diagnosis
- Practice-exam review when available
Science Foundations — $1,950
15 sessions · $130/hr effective
Best for semester-long support or pre-health-oriented students building a stronger foundation.
What's included
- Fifteen 60-minute sessions
- Biology or chemistry concept mastery
- Regular progress updates
- Study strategy and scientific reasoning
- One brief parent check-in
- Pre-health pathway discussion if relevant
Packages focus on one subject at a time unless otherwise agreed.
Frequently asked questions
I'm in your class at USD. Can you tutor me?
No, and I'd say the same to anyone. I don't tutor or advise students taking my courses, this term or a coming one, whether or not they pay. It isn't a fair position for either of us when I'm the one grading your work. Come to my office hours instead. They're free, and I'd rather see you there.
Which subjects do you tutor?
Biology, chemistry, and introductory biochemistry concepts only — not physics or environmental science.
Do you work online or in person, and how long are sessions?
Both — in person in San Diego and Coronado, or remotely by video. Sessions are 60 minutes.
Can you help with AP Biology or AP Chemistry?
Yes — that's a core focus, including the May exam.
Do you guarantee grades or AP scores?
No. Tutoring supports learning, confidence, and preparation, but outcomes depend on the student's effort, timing, course expectations, and the assessments themselves.
Tutoring is educational support: I don't complete homework, write lab reports, or guarantee grades or AP scores. I do not hold an MD degree and do not practice medicine; tutoring does not include medical advice.
Book a free 20-minute intro call or get in touch with questions