Fawns upon doctors delivering middle triplet (8)

I believe the answer is:
adulates
'fawns' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for adulates that I've seen before include "Praises obsequiously" , "Praises excessively - dual seat (anag)" .)
