A famous surgeon, one of the top people (1-6)

I believe the answer is:

a-lister

'one of the top people' is the definition.
(an A-list person)

'a famous surgeon' is the wordplay.
'famous surgeon' becomes 'Lister' (19th-century surgeon Joseph Lister).
'a'+'lister'='A-LISTER'

(Other definitions for a-lister that I've seen before include "Worthy" , "Top celebrity" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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