Surrounding doctor that is protected by soldier, perhaps (7)
I believe the answer is:
ambient
'surrounding' is the definition.
('ambient' can be a synonym of 'surrounding')
'doctor that is protected by soldier perhaps' is the wordplay.
'doctor' becomes 'mb' (Bachelor of Medicine, Medicinae Baccalaureus).
'that is' becomes 'ie' ('i.e.' can be a synonym of 'that is').
'protected by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'soldier perhaps' becomes 'ant' (soldier is a type of ant).
'mb'+'ie'='mbie'
'mbie' inserted into 'ant' is 'AMBIENT'.
(Other definitions for ambient that I've seen before include "Surrounding - mean bit (anag)" , "Surrounding or encircling, say temperature" , "Relating to the immediate environment" , "Surrounding or enveloping, say temperature" , "Going around" .)