Crossword Genius

A surgical pioneer is a star (1-6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

a-lister

'star' is the definition.
(both can mean a major celebrity)

'a surgical pioneer' is the wordplay.
'surgical pioneer' becomes 'Lister' (Joseph Lister pioneered antiseptic surgery).
'a'+'lister'='A-LISTER'

'is a' is the link.

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

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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