In Memory of Col. H. Larry Elman
Who could have imagined that a long and lasting friendship with Larry and Cheryl Elman would begin with a scream in a public restaurant?
And yet, that’s exactly how we—The Patient Whisperers—first met them. As seasoned ER nurses but relatively new hypnotists, we instinctively responded to Larry’s loud yell, acting as we always had in emergency situations. What happened next would change our lives and forge a deep bond with the Elmans.
In that moment, we instinctively applied what we now call Verbal Medicine—a form of waking hypnosis—to help Larry in his time of need. Once he recovered, and with no small amount of surprise, Larry realized what we had done.
Quoting Casablanca, “This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
And it truly was.
As a thank-you, Larry graciously offered to write the foreword to our book—a gift of support and encouragement that we will always treasure.
Over the years, our connection only grew. We became close friends with Larry and Cheryl, always happy to be there when they needed us. They jokingly called us “the Elman family nurses,” a nickname we wore with pride.
What began as an urgent medical moment turned into years of warmth, laughter, collaboration, and mutual respect. Larry’s generous spirit, wisdom, and unwavering kindness kept us close.
We will miss you deeply, Larry. Thank you for the friendship, the guidance, and the legacy you’ve left behind.
With love and gratitude,
The Patient Whisperers
Marc Sacco, RN & Roger Woods, RN
The Patient Whisperers Celebrate 10 Years at the NGH National Convention with New Groundbreaking Presentations
Marlborough, MA – August 2025 — The Patient Whisperers, Marc Sacco, RN, EMT-P [Ret.], BCH, OB and Roger Woods, RN, BCH, CI, OB, internationally recognized leaders in the use of hypnosis in healthcare, proudly marked their 10th year lecturing at the National Guild of Hypnotists’ 75th Annual National Convention.
Renowned for their flagship program, Verbal Medicine: The Language of Healing, Sacco and Woods once again captivated audiences with their innovative approach to communication and healing in clinical settings. This year, they expanded their offerings with two new presentations that drew wide acclaim from attendees.
The first, A Deep Dive into Verbal Medicine, provided a hands-on, skills-based workshop, giving participants practical tools to immediately apply the techniques that have been used worldwide by healthcare professionals.
The second, The Secret Power of IT!, introduced a groundbreaking universal scripting technique developed at their former Vermont facility, The Synergy Center. This method empowers clients to create meaningful change without needing to disclose personal issues, offering a transformative and discreet approach to healing. The live demonstrations sparked profound responses from several attendees, and audience feedback was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
“This year was especially meaningful for us,” said Sacco and Woods. “Celebrating a decade of sharing our work with the NGH community while also unveiling new techniques that can make a lasting difference in people’s lives was an incredible milestone.”
The Patient Whisperers continue to lead the way in advancing the role of hypnosis and therapeutic communication in healthcare, inspiring professionals across the globe to integrate these powerful tools into their practices.
Zurich, Switzerland – June 2025 — The Patient Whisperers, Marc Sacco (RN, EMT-P [Ret.], BCH, OB) and Roger Woods (RN, BCH, CI, OB), internationally recognized experts in the field of Hypnosis in Healthcare, recently returned from Zurich after being honored guests and lecturers at HypnoKongress, the prestigious International Hypnosis Conference in Switzerland.
Sacco and Woods were invited to present on their groundbreaking book, Verbal Medicine: The Language of Healing, which continues to receive global recognition for its innovative approach to integrating clinical hypnosis and therapeutic communication into modern healthcare. HypnoKongress showcases leading voices in medical hypnosis and therapeutic communication from both the German- and English-speaking worlds.
The Patient Whisperers’ presentation was met with widespread enthusiasm, further solidifying their reputation as leaders in the intersection of complementary and traditional medicine. Their mission remains clear: to elevate patient care by educating medical professionals and clients alike on the profound benefits of integrating evidence-based hypnotic techniques into conventional medical practice.
Marlborough, MA, August 12, 2023. —Board Certified Hypnotists Marc Sacco, RN, BCH, OB and Roger Woods, RN, BCH, CI, OB, known as The Patient Whisperers, were inducted into the prestigious Order of Braid Council, the National Guild of Hypnotists’ (NGH) International Honor Society. The award was presented during the National Guild of Hypnotist’s (ngh.net) annual Convention held in Marlborough, MA August 11-13, 2023. Named after James Braid, who is regarded as the father of modern hypnosis, the Order of Braid designation is the centerpiece of the NGH Awards System and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication, and service. Initials used for this designation are OB. Marc Sacco and Roger Woods were honored for their work in developing Verbal Medicine™, The Language of Healing which utilizes Hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), and the Nursing process to be “better at the bedside and happier at home”. They co-wrote the book Verbal Medicine on the subject and teach other healthcare professionals across the country how to use their techniques. The prestigious Order of Braid is an International Honor Society for the practice of hypnosis.
Ludlow, VT. 2018. —The Patient Whisperers Podcast goes live! Available on all the favorite podcast platforms.
New Haven, CT — Lecturing at Yale School of Nurse Anesthesia CRNA program.
Danbury, CT —Lecturing at WCSU Nursing dept.
New Fairfield, CT. 2018 —Verbal Medicine, The Language of Healing, co-written by Marc Sacco, RN, BCH, CRNH, OB and Roger Woods, RN, BCH, CI, CRNH, OB is now available on Amazon.
Marlborough, MA, August 12, 2018. — Our esteemed Fellow Hypnotists (Ron Eslinger and C. Scott Giles) learning Verbal Medicine techniques in our lecture at the NGH National Convention.
New York City, NY February 2015 —Where it all began… Roger and Marc took an NGH Certified Hypnotist course with instructor Mark Schwimmer and it changed their lives forever.