Academic mistaking surgeries for ops? (6,9)

I believe the answer is:

regius professor

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'academic' is the definition.
(Regius professor is an example)

'mistaking surgeries for ops?' is the wordplay.
'surgeries for ops' anagrams to 'REGIUS PROFESSOR'.
Though, I'm not clear how the anagram is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for regius professor that I've seen before include "Lecturer" , "prestigious chairman?" , "Distinguished academic" , "Senior academic" , "leading academic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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