Surreal is as good a word as any to describe how, even in the midst of a global pandemic, routine medical care — preventive checkups, pediatric visits, births, even the occasional trauma surgery — continues in a way that’s surprising to both doctors and patients.

When Dr. Fermin Leguen became the Southern Nevada Health District’s acting chief health officer last fall, nobody could have predicted how recognizable his name would become to Southern Nevadans just months later.

Nevada’s in the top 10, but it’s for a subject we shouldn’t be proud of. When it comes to vehicle accidents, Nevada ranks number five in states with the most pedestrian fatalities.

The 269 best physicians in Southern Nevada, as chosen by their peers

Dr. Deborah Kuhls talks about her experience as a trauma surgeon treating gunshot victims as the feud between the National Rifle Association and the medical community still rages on, with the latest round coming from physicians who released an editorial saying they disagree with the NRA.

Just over a year ago, Dr. Deborah Kuhls was nearing the end of her shift in the University Medical Center's trauma unit in Las Vegas. It was a Sunday like any other, the trauma surgeon said.

Freelance photographer David Becker pauses to collect himself as he stares down at the notes on his lap he says he needs to accurately detail the sequence of events from a year ago. He’d ramble otherwise, he says.

They sought a carefree weekend out on the town. Some were from Vegas, many drove in from Southern California, and others journeyed on a plane to escape the worries of their everyday lives.