Practitioner employed by extreme dictators (5)

I believe the answer is:

medic

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'practitioner' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'employed by extreme dictators' is the wordplay.
'employed by' indicates a hidden word.
'MEDIC' is hidden in the letters of 'extreme dictators'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for medic that I've seen before include "Physician (informal)" , "What was Basutoland" , "Word for 'doctor'" , "Health worker" , "He may offer treatment" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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