DUBLIN veterinary surgeon Dr Jessica Johnson got a “pleasant surprise” when she landed in Doha exactly a year ago to take up a new role as a surgeon at the custom built state-of-the-art Al Shaqab Equine Veterinary Medical Centre.

The surprises kept on coming for the newly qualified surgeon when she was suddenly asked to take the reins as acting director, essentially heading up the entire project in the lead-up to its opening.