Poet periodically welcomes in a doctor and priest (5)
I believe the answer is:
padre
'priest' is the definition.
(Padre is an example)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for padre that I've seen before include "Army serviceman?" , "Chaplain to armed forces" , "Military chaplain" , "Services' chaplain" , "Father" .)